LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 02: Joe Joyce celebrates with the WBO International Heavyweight belt after defeating Christian Hammer ( not pictured ) in the WBC Silver Silver and WBO International Heavyweight Title fight between Joe Joyce and Christian Hammer at OVO Arena Wembley on July 02, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker to fight September 24: Which Joe you got?
The winner will likely get a world title shot.
Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker. Parker is the early betting favorite and if you want to get in on the action, check out the best betting sites!
Neither are great fighters. In my view, the last great heavyweight was Larry Holmes. In his prime, Holmes was lean, mean, and the owner of a great jab.
Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce has been mentioning George Foreman lately, a two-time heavyweight titleholder.
“I am more like the older George Foreman, the second one who won the world title,” Joyce told reporters last week in London. “I am close to that age now, and I am still knocking you out.”
There’s some truth there. Big George was 38 when he returned to the ring after being absent for ten years. He knocked out 17 consecutive opponents over two years. Most weren’t great fighters, but some like former light heavyweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi, who was past his prime when they met, could still fight a little.
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Foreman stood 6-feet-3 and weighed 220 pounds in his prime. Foreman 2.0 weighed 47 pounds heavier. No matter, he won by knockout in four.
Joyce, 36, is three inches taller than Foreman. Big George would have enjoyed the fact that Joyce rarely moves his head. Tee it up. Foreman knocked out 68 opponents.
Joyce, who holds the WBO International, WBC Silver, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, weighed 265 pounds last month when he stopped Christian Hammer. His performance was typical. He allowed Hammer, the loser in three of his proceeding five bouts, to tag him with several right hands. After that, he beat Hammer down.
Ducking incoming right hands is an issue for Joyce – winner of silver at the 2016 Olympics. No problem so far due to the cement in his chin.
Parker has stopped 21 fighters in 30 bouts. Not a big puncher but above average. Check out the best new betting sites for betting on the fight.
Parker turned pro eleven years ago, after a short amateur career highlighted by winning gold at the China Open the year before. He started fast, knocking out nine of his first ten opponents. His first real test was against durable Carlos Takam six years ago. Parker managed to win the fight by unanimous decision.
He picked up the WBO heavyweight crown seven months later by edging Andy Ruiz near his hometown of South Auckland, NZ. The bout lacked excitement. He lost his crown to Anthony Joshua in 2018, and Parker’s strategy, or lack thereof, was widely criticized.
After losing to Dillian Whyte, Parker did a re-evaluation of his career. He hired former middleweight champion Andy Lee as his new trainer. The change has worked. Parker and Lee have won six fights in a row, though his decision win over Derek Chisora was highly debatable. Parker handily whupped Chisora in a rematch.
Lee has convinced Parker to be more active in the ring. Get off first. Parker is feeling pretty good about his chances going into the Joyce fight.
“I have waited patiently to get this fight on, and let me tell you, now, the ‘Juggernaut’s’ journey ends right here,” said Parker. He has nowhere to run.”
Running won’t be an option on September 24. Joyce fights like a statue at times, but his hands are heavy. Parker is more athletic but can lack consistency.
As of this writing, Parker is the betting favorite.
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