By Charles Brun: Joe Joyce’s manager Sam Jones believes he’s going to give Oleksandr Usyk major problems when the two of them battle it out for the interim WBO heavyweight title in the first quarter of 2021.
Jones is expecting the World Boxing Organization to order the Usyk vs. Joyce fight, and they’re already negotiating it. The matchwinner will likely be elevated to full WBO champ after Anthony Joshua, and Tyson Fury meets in the first fight of their two-fight deal in June.
All four titles will be on the line for the Joshua-Fury fight, as previously hoped for. But the winner of the contest will only briefly be the undisputed heavyweight champion before they give up the WBO title, but it doesn’t appear that AJ and Fury care too much about that.
This is arguably just about marketing for the fight, having the match advertised as the ‘undisputed’ heavyweight championship. Having that fact as part of the promotion might get a little more interest from boxing fans, but obviously not as much as you would think.
Jones isn’t impressed with what he’s seen from the 33-year-old former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) in his two fights at heavyweight.
Usyk didn’t look outstanding in squeaking by journeyman Dereck Chisora with a narrow 12 round decision last October, and taking punishment against 38-year-old Chazz Witherspoon in 2019 in beating him.
Joyce fighting at a higher level than Usyk now
“It’s a strange one because Usyk at cruiserweight, he’s a genius at cruiserweight,” said Sam Jones to iFL TV. “He barely lost a round at cruiserweight. Usyk is a fantastic boxer, a unified cruiserweight world champion, but this is a totally different ballgame.
“Joe Joyce is on form; Usyk isn’t on form at the moment. I saw Dereck Chisora cause Usyk a lot of problems in that fight, and me, personally, I think Joe is a better fighter than Dereck.
“He’s bigger, he’s stronger, and he has better legs. Joe Joyce is going to give Usyk hell. Whether it’s inside the distance or if it goes 12, Joe is going to give him hell,” said Jones.
We don’t know if WBO mandatory Usyk is getting a step aside fee for him to be stepping aside to let WBO champion Joshua face Fury with that belt on the line. If Usyk is not getting anything, that would be a shock.
He’s going to be risking his WBO mandatory status against the 6’6″ Joyce, and there’s a lot of money to be lost if he gets beaten.
Poor Usyk has looked like a fish out of water since moving up to heavyweight, and it’s painfully obvious that he doesn’t belong in this weight class.
But the money that Usyk can make in a title fight against the Joshua vs. Fury winner is worlds better than he would get for his cruiserweight fights.
Hence, that’s likely the main reason why Usyk moved up to heavyweight. There’s no money in the cruiserweight division.
Sam confident Usyk – Joyce gets made
“The [WBO] mandatory is due [for Usyk], and rightfully so, they’ll [Joshua and Fury] will get a pardon, and after that, the belt should by rights come free,” Jones said. That’s a worthy fight for a world title.
“Let’s see what happens, but as a fan, I’m looking forward to Joshua-Fury. Let’s hope we can get Usyk and Joe Joyce made all because that’s another huge fight.
Very confident [Joyce vs. Usyk gets made]. Joe is in the camp right now for the Usyk fight. Camp started for Joe, and as I saw the other day, Usyk looks like he’s in camp. You should imagine the first quarter of this year,” Sam said.
Joyce’s recent performance against Daniel Dubois with him stopping him in the 10th round last November, that’s got to be cause for concern for Team Usyk.
This isn’t the same Joyce (12-0, 11 KOs) that Usyk beat by a five-round decision in 2013. Joye has improved measurably.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewl1_92KFeQ
The Joyce vs. Usyk fight is definitely going to get made, as there’s too much money to be gained for the winner for it not to.
With these two heavyweights planning on fighting in the first quarter of 2021, it’s important that they start training now.
We don’t need to hear the excuses about one of them not being in shape for the fight afterward.
Joyce likely to be the underdog
“I’m a big fan of Usyk. He’s one of the best cruiserweight of all time. Maybe he’s just behind Evander Holyfield. he’s definitely in the top three of all time at cruiserweight,” Jones continued.
“But at heavyweight, he [Usyk] fought Chad Witherspoon and didn’t look that great. He didn’t set the world on fire, and he had a hard fight against Dereck Chisora.
“Does that really warrant you getting a heavyweight world title shot against Anthony Joshua?
“Joe Joyce has done everything asked of him. [Bryant] Jennings, Stiverne, Ustinov, Joe Hanks in America. Daniel Dubois, no one gave Joe a prayer in that fight.
“So maybe Usyk might feel hard done by it, but it’s a fair fight. It’s a hard fight as well for Joe. He’ll go into that fight as a big underdog against Usyk,” said Jones.
Joyce will be the underdog against Usyk, but it doesn’t matter. Joe was a big underdog in his recent fight against Daniel Dubois, and we saw how that one ended.
It would mean something if Joyce were the underdog against Usyk if the former undisputed cruiserweight were looking good at heavyweight. But the fact of the matter is, Usyk has looked poor since moving up in weight.
His recent close call against journeyman Dereck Chisora shows clearly that Usyk isn’t cut out to be a heavyweight.
Usyk vs. Joyce talks progressing
“There’s been news circulating that they’re going to order the interim [WBO] title, but there’s no official confirmation,” Jones continued.
“S Jam is in talks with Queensbury at the moment, and talks are going very, very well, and I hope to give you an announcement by next week. But the winner is going to be in a great position, aren’t they?
“The talks are progressing nicely, and we hope to have a deal sorted by next week. It could be anytime now, it could be next week,” said Jones when asked when the World Boxing Organization will order the Usyk vs. Joyce fight.
“It’s looking very positive,” Jones said.
It would be great if the Joyce vs. Usyk fight can get announced by next week. Having that fight ready to go will give them a head start in promoting the match.