Joe Joyce is still optimistic that he can get into the battle of his dreams against his English rival Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
WBC World Champion, Fury, insists he retires, while Joshua faces Alexander Usik on August 20, after losing his WBA, IBF and WBO belts due to a Ukrainian decision last September.
Anger (will he box again?) And uncertainty about Joshua’s future (will it be a battle for Joyce to beat him again?), Undefeated Joyce believes he’s just a fight away from his first world. Title shot.
KO, who has won 12 of 13 fights, will face Christian Hammer (ESPN +, 2:30 pm ET) at OVO Arena Wembley in London on Saturday, retaining his No. 1 and No. 1 position. 2 Ranking with WBO and WBC.
With Fury and Usik sharing all four major titles, the only way for Joyce to miss out on the title next year is to retire Fury and become the undisputed world heavyweight champion to face the winner of Usik-Joshua 2. ,
Joyce, who turned 37 in September, told ESPN, “Tyson hasn’t let go of his belt yet. If he let go of his WBC belt, I’d probably be number one in the fight against Dynet Wilder.” “Tyson is enjoying some family time now, but I think he’s looking forward to seeing Usik-Joshua’s outcome. He has won and done everything in the game, but if £ 500m is on the table, I’m sure he will fight again.
“If the Yusik-Joshua winner doesn’t want to fight me, they have to give up the WBO belt and I have to fight for it.”
Joyce knows Fury, Joshua and Usik well because he has shared the ring with them all.
“I killed Fury before my first fight with Dionte Wilder.” [in December 2018]Joyce said. “I haven’t fought Joshua since 2017 and I’ve fought Usik as an amateur, so I know them all well.”
Joyce played a number of matches with Joshua while being part of the Great Britain Olympic boxing team, and in 2011 Joshua had to wait in the first round at the beginning of his amateur career. Joshua won the Olympic Super Heavyweight Gold Medal a year later, and Joyce remained an amateur until he won the Olympic Super Heavyweight Silver Medal in 2016. Joyce and Joshua continued to play early in Joyce’s professional career. A year after Usik won the heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, Joyce lost a unanimous decision in 2013.
“Of course from recent performances, Tyson is the best of the three,” Joyce said. “After killing Joshua, Yusik himself stood there and then he is Joshua.”
Joyce has been training with Cuban coach Ismail Salas in Las Vegas since stopping Carlos Tacum in July last year. Germany’s 34-year-old Hammer (27-9, 17 KO) has lost three of his last five matches and is not the strongest opponent, but Joyce sees this as an important preparation for the World Cup.
Joyce said, “This is fighting practice and the ideal fight for me right now.” It would have been Joseph Parker, but the fight with him has been a bit complicated and the fight has been postponed. I wanted to fight in July, so this fight is good for me. Is and he is with some experienced combat players.
“I’m also talking about fighting Dillian White and Tyson Fury. I just want to get rid of the hammer and it can be a hassle.