By Craig Daly: Joe Joyce earned the WBO mandatory spot last Saturday night with a victory over Joseph Parker, and now hopes to challenge unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk or WBC champion Tyson Fury next.
Fury said Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) beats everyone at heavyweight except him. When told about that comment, Joyce said, “Sign the contract.” He is ready to fight Fury next if he feels confident in his abilities to beat him.
Fury obviously won’t take that fight with Joyce because it’s hard work, and he’s more interested in a big payday against Anthony Joshua on Dec. 3. Joyce would be a real problem for Fury, who couldn’t get away with her main specialty of leaning on his opponents.
The style Fury’s trainer, Sugarhill Steward, taught him isn’t one that works against Joyce, and at this point in his career, he doesn’t have the wheels he once had to move for 12 rounds to evade the Juggernaut.
“Yeah, it was fun while it lasted. It was difficult and challenging,” Joe Joyce told iFL TV. “That’s why I love boxing. It was a great victory and a phenomenal knockout as well.
“I was trying to take him out in rounds seven and eight. That’s when she was starting to feel it and feel the rhythm.
“I rushed in and picked up the pace like my corner was saying and tried to get him out of there but he held on and was still struggling and hitting. It wasn’t until the 11th that it was a big hook that I caught him for the finish.
“We’ll have to wait and see. If he doesn’t want it, I’ll be promoted, thanks,” Joyce said when asked if Usyk would want to defend his WBO title against him.
“Let’s see. Sign the contract,” Joyce said when told that Tyson Fury said he would beat everyone but him. .
“He is a phenomenal fighter, but yeah, it would be a great fight. Let’s see what happens. Whether he fights Usyk, or he fights me, or he fights Joshua or Manuel Charr. One thing is for sure, I am the OMB route. If Usyk is not going to take the fight, I am going to be world champion.
“I’m at the elite level and I can call these guys and get the best fights. It was a long time ago and there was water under the bridge,” Joyce said of his loss to Usyk many years ago.
“This time, it will be more than 12 rounds. I saw how Joshua got along with him, and I think I can do better,” Joyce said.
