By William Lloyd: Ricky Hatton is predicting that unbeaten heavyweight contender Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce will be a nightmare for champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to deal with when one of them must defend against the 2016 Olympian.
Hatton says the combination of the 6’6″ Joyce’s freakish punch resistance, size, and powerful jab will cause IBF/WBA/WBO champion Joshua and WBC champ Fury massive issues.
In Joyce’s last two fights, he’s stopped Carlos Takam and Daniel Dubois in impressive performances, showing the ability to wear down his opponents with his jab, which is like a power punch.
Joyce put nonstop pressure on Dubois and Takam until both of them wilted, and it is unreal that he walked through their best shots.
The ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce is ranked #2 WBO and #3 WBC, and he’ll surely be getting a world title shot soon, possibly against Joshua. Joyce is expected to go the route with the World Boxing Organization to challenge for a world title against whoever holds the belt by 2023.
Hatton says Joyce = Nightmare for AJ & Fury
“Joyce will trouble Fury and Joshua,” said Ricky Hatton to the Metro. “I think Joe Joyce would be a nightmare for anyone in the heavyweight division.
“It just so happens his British rivals in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are just such formidable fighters.”
Hatton failed to mention Dillian Whyte, Oleksandr Usyk, and Deontay Wilder as fighters Joyce may need to mix it up with. At this point, it’s still unknown who will be the last man standing by 2023.
Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) has a tough fight next month against Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs), whereas Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) is meeting up with the rejuvenated former WBC champion Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) on October 9th.
The winner of those fights will meet in the first quarter of 2022 for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Most boxing fans believe Joshua and Fury will square off in early 2022, but it could be Usyk and Wilder, which would be a shock to the fans.
Joyce has the talent to beat all of those fighters, as long as his chin continues to allow him to walk through punches. Joshua and Usyk would be tough options for Joyce, as both of them can use movement to evade his pressure.
“He’s a nightmare for anyone with that style and that left jab of his,” Hatton continued about Joe Joyce. “The amount of damage he does when he throws them is huge. Also, his punch resistance is freakish; the shots seem to just bounce off him.
“He will give Joshua and Tyson a load of problems and because of his long amateur spell,” said Hatton of Joe Joyce.
Joyce’s athleticism makes him tough for Fury and Joshua, and he’s got the size to match up with them.