Joe Joyce vs Joseph Parker: The Highly-rated Heavyweight Collide on September 24
FightersTalkTV.com – The WBO’s top-rated heavyweight contenders, Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker have managed to salvage a deal to collide on Saturday, September 24 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The collision is between number one and two in the WBO rankings, in which the belt is held by Oleksandr Usyk.
The unbeaten Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs) – a 2016 Olympic silver medallist — holds the WBO International and WBC Silver heavyweight titles and is a former British, Commonwealth and European champion.
Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) previously held the WBO world title, winning the vacant belt against Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2016 and making successful defenses against Razvan Cojanu and Hughie Fury before losing on points in a unification fight against Anthony Joshua.
Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker with Frank Warren.
A relieved Frank Warren said: “It is one the fans want to see, so I am delighted to be taking this blockbuster fight to Manchester, the biggest indoor arena in the country, which we want to see packed to the rafters.”
Joe Joyce’s concrete chin has been perhaps his greatest strength during his steady climb toward a heavyweight title shot.
The hulking knockout artist’s ability to take even the flushest punches from big, strong opponents has helped him overcome defensive flaws that might’ve led less durable boxers to knockout defeats. Joseph Parker predicted that’s all about to end.
The former WBO heavyweight champion claimed that he’ll punch through Joyce’s aura of invincibility and knock him out when they meet September 24 at AO Arena in Manchester, England.
“I will hurt him,” Parker said. “Yeah, I will hurt Joe. … I’m gonna beat him, get him out of there and get the win. That’s what I’m gonna do.”
Joseph Parker vs Derek Chisora, WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Title Fight, Manchester.18 December 2021.Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing.
Joseph Parker retained his WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title after defeated Derek Chisora in last December.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Joyce also predicted a knockout. In nearly five years as a pro, only American veteran Bryant Jennings has gone the distance with London’s Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs), who defeated Philadelpha’s Jennings (24-4, 14 KOs) by unanimous decision in a 12-rounder in July 2019 at O2 Arena in London.
Something must give, however, because Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) has not been knocked out in 32 professional fights. Former IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) and British contender Dillian Whyte (28-3, 19 KOs) topped Parker by unanimous decision in back-to-back 12-rounders in 2018, but he has won six straight bouts since suffering his lone losses.
When Joyce joked about Parker’s punches amounting to tickles, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Parker promised that Joyce will finally feel what 93 percent of his pro opponents have learned when they’ve encountered “The Juggernaut.”
“I’m gonna beat your ass up and get you out of there and get the win and then move on,” said Parker, whose past three fights have gone the 12-round distance. “Actually, oh sorry, you’ve locked me into a rematch clause. So, I’m gonna have a rematch with you again in December. I don’t need a rematch clause because I back myself.”
Joe Joyce defeats heavyweight Christian Hammer - Adscra News
Joe Joyce stopped Christian Hammer in round 4 to retain his WBO international and WBC silver heavyweight titles at Wembley Arena, London, England, past July.
Joyce took offense to Parker’s reference to their rematch clause.
“I back myself, but, you know, I’m the ‘A’ side, so I’m entitled to my rematch clause,” Joyce said. “The fight’s on now, and I’m gonna put some dents into your face.”
Joyce, 36, and Parker, 30, will headline a BT Sport Box Office pay-per-view show in the United Kingdom and Ireland and on ESPN+ at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Joyce opened as a slight favorite (-166/+130), according to FanDuel.
Watch the fight highlight and the reaction videos on our YouTube channel >>>
