By Sam Volz: Promoter Frank Warren believes Joe Joyce will give IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk a lot of trouble with his size, pressure and non-stop hitting style.
Warren feels Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) will wear Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) down if he tries to get past him. While Warren points out that Usyk and Joyce fought many years ago in the amateurs, the Juggernaut has gotten much bigger and stronger since then.
Joyce weighed 230 pounds when he lost a five-round decision against Usyk in the World Series of Boxing. In contrast, Joyce weighed in at 271 pounds for his fight against Joseph Parker. Joyce has grown a lot since his fight with Usyk, and now it would be a nightmare for him.
Last Saturday, Joyce knocked out former WBO heavyweight champion Parker (30-3, 21 KOs) in the 11th round to win the interim WBO title at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.
Joyce will fight next in March, according to Warren. He didn’t say who Joyce would be fighting at the time, but it won’t be for a world title against Usyk.
Fury and Usyk are expected to fight for the undisputed championship in February or March. It won’t be until long after that before Joyce finally lands a world title. It is questionable whether Usyk vs. Fury will hold on to the WBO belt to face Joyce.
“I knew it would be a good fight, and the stars would mingle to make it a good fight, but it was better than I expected,” Frank Warren told iFL TV of Joe Joyce’s knockout victory over Joseph Parker.
“Joe started off fast behind that jab and set a good pace. They both gave it their all. Joseph Parker showed tremendous courage and spirit. When you think he has never been stopped and a former world champion.
“He’s on a six-fight undefeated streak, and Joe has only had 14 fights. That was a big step up in his class for him, and he handled it superbly well. That was a world class finish.
“I think so,” Warren said when asked if Parker was okay after his knockout. “Joe also caught with a couple of shots. If I were a boxer, it has to be very daunting to hit him with a good punch, and then when you hit, he comes at you again.
“You better not hit him because it makes him more dangerous. He is an amazing fighter. He is a strong man, and he has really hit the scene in a big way. I thought it was a great performance.
“He should be proud of himself, and everyone is involved. It was a great fight. It takes two to make a big fight. You have to give Parker credit for his bravery and his endurance at the end of a heavyweight who gives anybody big trouble.
“You don’t want to fight him. If I were Usyk, would I want to fight him? Who would you support? I know they have amateur backgrounds, but that was amateur.
“You look at the size of him and how big he is. If you try to get over it [Joyce]it will only wear you out. He is such a great man and he does not hold you back.
“I think it gives Usyk a lot of problems. Anyone can go if they catch it right, but so far, they just bounce off it, right? Whoever is catching it, it just goes right through them.
“He has the most apt nickname in the sport, which is the Juggernaut. That is exactly what he is. He is relentless. BT and Queensbury is the home of heavyweight boxing. That’s where everything is. All roads lead to Queensbury.
“He will fight again in March. Hopefully, there will be a unification. I think that’s what everyone would like to see,” Warren said when asked about Joyce’s upcoming fight.
“He will fight again in March, and now he is in the fight. He is the interim champion. When the WBO mandate expires, they will have to fight him,” Warren said.
