Joe Joyce to fight on July 2nd at the Wembley Arena

By Boxing News - 05/27/2022 - Comments

By Barry Holbrook: Unbeaten heavyweight contender Joe ‘Juggernaut] Joyce will be returning to the ring on July 2nd against a still to be determined opponent at the Wembley Arena in London, England.

This will be a stay busy fight for the #1 WBO, #2 WBC ranked Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs), who is expected to face Joseph Parker in September in a mouth-watering clash.

Joyce wants to stay sharp in 2022 by getting a couple of fights under his belt to prepare for a world title shot in 2023 against the last man standing in the championship fights involving Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, and potentially Tyson Fury.

It’s questionable whether Fury will elect to fight Joyce next year if he’s the one holding all the belts. ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury seems to be heading towards retirement, and if he can beat the Joshua vs. Usyk 2 rematch winner, it’s almost certain that he’ll ride off into the sunset never to return again

There’s no clue from Joyce’s promoter who he’ll be fighting on July 2nd at the Wembley Arena. According to the press release, Joyce will fight an “established heavyweight,” which could mean anything.

What fans don’t want to see is Joyce fighting another old guy like Carlos Takam. Five of the last seven opponents for Joyce have been heavyweights that were long in the tooth.

Of course, at 36, Joyce isn’t exactly a young fighter either. Still, you’d like to see Joyce taking on younger heavyweights still in their prime rather than being repeatedly matched against old-timers heading into their golden years.

Joyce’s recent opponents:

  • Carlos Takam – 41
  • Michael Wallisch – 36
  • Bryant Jennings – 37
  • Alexander Ustinov – 45
  • Bermane Stiverne – 43
  • Joe Hanks – 39
  • Daniel Dubois – 24
  • Iago Kiladze – 36
  • Lenroy Thomas – 37
  • Ian Lewison – 40

“Joe Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) will be getting back into the ring against an established heavyweight contender as he closes in on a September clash with Joseph Parker in what will be a battle between No.1 and No.2 with the WBO. Following a lay-off due to injury, the Juggernaut will return to the scene of his last fight, a sixth-round stoppage of Carlos Takam in July of last year,” per a press release.

It would be interesting for boxing fans to see Joyce take on guys like Dillian Whyte, Frank Sanchez, Andy Ruiz Jr, Tony Yoka, or Filip Hrgovic. At least by taking on those types of heavyweights, Joyce would be preparing himself properly for fighting the likes of Fury, Joshua, or Usyk.

Parker is a good basic heavyweight, but he’s badly flawed too, lacking the killer instinct needed to be an elite heavyweight. Joyce won’t prove anything by beating Parker later this year, and that’s a fight that won’t prepare him for the big three in the division.

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