Age may just be a number, but 37 is an amazing time to be in the position of a younger man.
2016 Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs) is the number one contender for the WBO heavyweight crown. That makes him Oleksandr Usyk’s number one contender, one of the toughest assignments in boxing.
So far, while the sample size may be limited, Joyce looks like one of the toughest contenders in the game. At 6’6, often over 260 pounds, fans have already seen ample evidence of a man with the chin and patience to strike fear into the hearts of many a big man. While few would expect him to beat Usyk today, or lineal king Tyson Fury, winning is the way for him to get a chance to try. If he’s not the fastest heavyweight in the world, he might be the up-and-coming contender who needs the fastest moves.
Joyce will make her next move on Saturday (ESPN, 1 pm EST).
Fifteen fights in a career and facing a former champion is a good place. Closer to 40 than 30, it’s also dim. Of all the top heavyweights in the world right now who have yet to receive a title shot, there may not be one who can afford a minor loss.
Compare that to former WBO champion Joseph Parker (30-2, 21 KOs). The 30-year-old should be at his best. Winner of six straight fights since a wild brawl with Dillian Whyte, including two fights in a row against veteran trial horse Dereck Chisora, Parker is the WBO’s second-ranked heavyweight.
It’s not a bad venue, but heading into this weekend, Parker may feel like he’s gotten a bit lost in the shuffle. Once a prospect who created a buzz with his speed and power, even in this corner, Parker has shown a consistent presence at heavyweight, but has never commanded attention near the highest level.
Parker got the benefit of the doubt in a close fight with Andy Ruiz to win a belt, looked lost in a lopsided unification loss to Anthony Joshua, and skidded to the brink of another loss in the first fight with Chisora. Part of getting opportunities is positioning yourself in the rankings of sanctioning bodies.
Another part is creating the kind of interest that makes champions see the financial advantages of going up against you. A victory over Joyce this weekend would be a reminder to the world that Parker is not here.
It would be a reminder that he is still a player.
Parker needs it bad.
Joyce too.
In a field where titles are and have been largely cemented for a while, it’s the best setting for fans. While we may not have an undisputed champion, Tyson and Usyk narrow down the lanes. There is no extra belt in a relatively easier brand for fighters to try to position themselves. Title shots are being earned the right way right now and boxing benefits. As happened a few weeks ago with Andy Ruiz-Luiz Ortiz, and as will be the case when Deontay Wilder meets Robert Helenius in October, we are having a quality matchup between fighters who are taking risks to move up the lane.
That it can be an interesting clash makes it even better. Parker can be inconsistent, but his advantage in speed and experience might make him more willing to play here. Joyce walks up to him and tries to punch him. One of them will get away with it.
One of them will satisfy the need for victory this weekend and the heavyweight division will have a lot more clarity on where it’s headed when the dust settles.
Cliff’s Notes…
Gennadiy Golovkin-Erislandy Lara appears to be where the WBA is going to make their demands for title consolidation. Both are past their prime, but that could be a good fight for the fans…Floyd Mayweather will be in exhibition action this weekend. It’s a good job if you can get it… I guess Shakur Stevenson will be a lightweight by this time next year. Top Rank has a good combination they can do with him, Vasyl Lomachenko and world champion Devin Haney, but it might be tough to stay home if we have Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia … if Saul Alvarez doesn’t go. After Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight, his most deserving contender at super middleweight is David Benavidez. As the undisputed super middleweight champion, that should matter.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Classification Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be contacted at [email protected]
