MANCHESTER, England – The Juggernaut continues apace.
British heavyweight star Joe Joyce scored the biggest win of his career to date by scoring a spectacular 11th-round knockout of former champion Joseph Parker at the AO Arena on Saturday. The official time was 1:03.
Joyce, who entered as The Ring’s No. 6 ranked heavyweight, put in an extremely good performance and closed with a vicious left hook that sent Parker into the Briton’s corner. Badly injured, the New Zealander valiantly tried to get up, but referee Steve Gray counted him out.
“What a fighter Joseph Parker is,” Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) said during his post-fight interview with BT Sport. “I really enjoyed it and it was tough there. I had to dig deep. I hit him with everything in the kitchen sink.”
The first round was strong for Parker, who backed up the bigger man and showed some good lateral movement. However, Joyce moved up a gear in the second and forced the former WBO champion to work hard for three minutes. Parker got caught in the corners several times and Joyce’s suffocating presence seemed ominous from the start.
The third was a brilliant round of heavyweight action. Joyce continued to back up Parker and nail him with the jab and hammering hooks from both sides. Almost tired of taking hits, Parker responded with some heavy body shots and the right uppercut was also a memorable shot throughout the session.
Parker, 30, was able to land but was unable to cause any damage. Massive, bloody shots landed flush and the super-durable Joyce tore through them. The visitor had to pick their moments to land forehand because Joyce’s chin is amazing and his choking attacks were taking their toll.
The seventh was another round full of punishments. Joyce increased the pressure and landed more shots to the head and body. Parker was clearly out of breath and in retreat and his problems were compounded when a nasty cut opened over his right eye.
Joyce was now landing two or three times as many punches and Parker was running out of steam. Playing as usual, Parker found some good shots with his back foot, but the cut was a serious distraction.
One moment in the ninth was the entire fight in microcosm: Parker led Joyce into a perfect right uppercut in the center of the ring, and before you could say “nice shot,” the visitor was hit by a pulverizing right hand that knocked him out. sent back to the ropes.
Parker (30-3, 21 KOs) bravely faced the best that Joyce had to offer and the shot that ended the fight would have finished off most heavyweights.
Joyce, 37, is without a doubt one of the best heavyweights in the world today. The only drawback is his advanced age. Ideally, the colossal Londoner would be eyeing a world title shot in 2023, but the split is currently locked. Joshua versus Fury versus Usyk, plus potential rematches, could easily leak into 2024.
Speaking of rematches, Joyce and Parker are contractually obligated to fight again in December. If that goes ahead, it will keep the pair busy as the never-ending road to the undisputed unfolds.
Both fighters weighed more than at any point in their respective careers. Joyce weighed in at 277.25 pounds, while Parker tipped the scales at 255.25.
Tom Gray is Managing Editor of Ring Magazine. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing
