Via Barry Holbrook: Athlete Frank Warren says he likes the idea of Joe Joyce going up against Anthony Joshua in the IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion’s next bout without Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk is busy defending Ukraine against Russia’s invasion of his country. There’s no telling when he might return to defend the IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight titles against Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) in a rematch.
Last Saturday night, Joshua expressed his approval of the possibility of going against the undefeated WBO 2nd, WBC 3rd place ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) next.
Joshua will need to return in May or June to stay in shape, and it doesn’t look like Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) won’t be back from Ukraine any time soon. Anh and Vasyl Lomachenko are two boxers from Ukraine who participated in defending their homeland to repel the Russian invaders.
Last Saturday, however, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said he would not be considering a top contender in AJ’s three interim struggles. At the same time, he waits for Usyk, which could rule out the possibility that the 6’6″ high-ranked Joyce is his next opponent.
Joyce may be too good for Joshua right now, as he is fighting at a high level, and he will take advantage of AJ’s chin and fitness problems.
The last thing Hearn wanted to do was stick Joshua with the steel chin slugger Joycewho has great fitness and will push an impossible speed for him.
Warren is ready for Joshua to fight Joyce
“It was a good fight,” Frank Warren told iFL TV about the Anthony Joshua vs Joe Joyce fight. “I think the public will definitely buy a fight between AJ and Joe Joyce.
“I think it’s a fight with monsters. That’s probably why I’m the promoter, and Dereck Chisora is not, and he’s a competitor,” Warren said in reaction to being told Chisora was cool with the idea of Joshua fighting. with the next Joe Joyce.
“Joe Joyce, we’ll do it in a heartbeat,Warren talks about Joshua needing an opponent soon. “Joe will fight him in a heartbeat. It was a great bankruptcy in the country. Let’s refocus and get the job done.
“I would do it in a heartbeat, absolutely. Joe will do it. Yes, it was a great fight. We will work a deal. How does it work? We will sit around the table and solve a problem. I think it was a great fight.
“I like that; I really do. That would sell out Wembley.
“It is very sad what happened to Usyk; it’s terrible. He actually has a tougher fight than boxing at the time he’s at. It’s a terrible thing happening in his country.
“I’m sure there will be other fights going on while he’s doing what he’s doing,” Warren said.
Hearn said last weekend that he would need to know soon about Usyk’s situation regarding the rematch. Joshua, 32, can’t wait for Usyk to return from the Russian front in Ukraine.
Hearn didn’t mention wanting to pressure Usyk to strip some of his titles so Joshua can fight for them, but it is predictable that he will soon put pressure on the IBF, WBA or WBO to strip them. give up his title.
Joshua needs a rematch with Usyk more than a world championship because defeat to him last November has greatly affected his credibility.
If Usyk is stripped of three belts, it doesn’t make much sense if Joshua wins one of the two belts against one of the contenders.
Given how badly Joshua is dominated by the smaller Usyk, he’d better avoid fighting for any heavyweight title again unless he can get a rematch with Usik.
