By Huck Allen: Joe Joyce will be facing the former WBO heavyweight champion this summer on July 2nd at the Wembley Arena in London. The fight is “set” for July 2nd.

Last Saturday, the two highly ranked contenders, Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) and Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) revealed that they are in negotiations for a huge fight.

Joyce, 36, told Behind The Gloves that his fight with the 30-year-old is now set for July 2nd in London.

The winner of the contest will be in a good position to challenge for the WBO strap against either Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk. Those two are fighting on July 23rd, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

“I’m ranked #1 with the WBO and he’s ranked #2, so there’s no better fight out there for the both of us,” said Joyce to Behind The Gloves about his July 2nd fight against Parker.

“Yeah, that elevates us up a little bit more,” said Joyce when told that he and #3 WBC Parker will be in a position to challenge for the WBC heavyweight title once WBC champion Tyson Fury vacates his belt.

“It’s fun & games, but once we get inside the ring, we’re going to be trying to knock each other out,” said Joyce about him and Parker being nice guys.

“One of them was at Wembley Arena, but it’s July 2nd. The fight has been announced, and I’m excited and Joe is excited. I’m sure everyone else is excited,” said Joyce.

“Parker looked very good in his last fight against [Derek] Chisora. He looked very strong in that,” said Joyce to Boxing Social about Parker’s one-sided 12-round unanimous decision win over former world title challenger/gatekeeper/journeyman Derek Chisora last December in Manchester, England.

“He’s definitely got the skills and the defensive abilities to cause problems for me, so it’s going to be a great fight,” Joyce said of Parker. “Apart from the top four, this is the best fight.

“For both of us, there’s no better fight than #1 vs. #2 in the WBO, and #2 vs. #3 with the WBC. I can’t wait, I’m excited, and I can’t wait to put on a dominating ‘Juggernaut’ performance.

“Sparring him as well, what a great fight that would be as well,” said Joyce when asked if he spotted flaws in Tyson Fury’s game in his fight last Saturday against Dillian Whyte.

“I have to deal with Parker, but let’s hope that Fury is going to get back in the ring and face me,” said Joyce.