Via Sam Volz: Athlete Frank Warren believes Joe Joyce will give IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk plenty of problems with his size, pressure and relentless punching style.
Warren feels that Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) will beat Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) if he tries to get past him. While Warren points out that Usyk and Joyce fought many years ago in amateur circles, Juggernaut has grown a lot bigger and stronger since then.
Joyce weighed 230 lbs when he lost to Usyk in the deciding round of 5 rounds in the world boxing series. In contrast, Joyce weighed 271 lbs for the match against Joseph Parker. Joyce has become a lot bigger since the fight with Usyk, and he would be a nightmare for him now.
Last Saturday, Joyce stopped former WBO heavyweight champion Parker (30-3, 21 KOs) in round 11 to win the interim WBO title at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.
Joyce will fight next March, according to Warren. He didn’t say who Joyce would be fighting at the time, but it wouldn’t be the world title before Usyk.
Fury and Usyk are expected to fight for the undisputed championship in February or March. It wasn’t until much later that Joyce got a world title. At issue is whether Usyk vs. Fury will hold the WBO belt to face Joyce.
Frank Warren said: “I knew it was going to be a good fight and the stars would mix to make a good fight, but it was better than I expected. iFL TV about Joe Joyce’s knockout win over Joseph Parker.
“Joe started fast after that bump, and he set up a good pace. Both have given their best. Joseph Parker showed great courage and spirit. When you think he has never been stopped and is a former world champion.
“He had six inconclusive fights, and Joe had only 14. It was a huge step up in class for him, and he handled it brilliantly. It was a world class finish.
“I believe so, yes,” Warren said when asked if Parker was okay after the knockout. “Joe also caught with a few shots. If I were a boxer, hitting him with a good shot wouldn’t be so good, and when you hit, he comes back to you.
“You better not hit him because it makes him more dangerous. He is a great fighter. He’s a strong man, and he’s really been on the scene for a big time. I think it was a great performance.
“He should be proud of himself, and everyone is involved. It was a great fight. It takes two to make a great fight. You have to credit Parker for his courage and tenacity in the end against a heavyweight that presents anyone with big problems.
“You don’t want to fight him. If I were Usyk, would I want to fight him? Who will you return to? I know they have history from amateurs, but those are amateurs.
“You look at his size and how big he is. If he tries to send him a letter [Joyce]he will just wear him down. He’s a big man, and he doesn’t back down from you.
“I think he gives Usyk a lot of problems. Anyone can go if they get caught right, but until now, they’ve only beaten him, right? Whoever caught him, he just passed them.
“He has the most appropriate nickname in the sport, which is Juggernaut. That’s exactly what he is. He is non-stop. BT and Queensbury are home to heavyweight boxing. That’s where it all is. All roads lead to Queensbury.
“He will fight again in March. Hopefully there will be unity. I think that’s what people want to see,” Warren said when asked about the next fight for Joyce.
“He will fight again in March, and he is in the mix. He is the interim champion. When the WBO mandate is due, they’re going to have to fight him,” Warren said.
