One too many – The sad decline of “The Juggernaut” Joy Joyce

Look up the word juggernaut, and you’ll find this definition.

“An unstoppable, massive force or object that crushes everything in its path.”

Five years ago, that’s exactly what Joy Joyce was.

After watching Joyce get hammered and still win, my old-time movie brain thought of “Iron Man” starring the late Jeff Chandler.

Iron Man was like Joyce. He rarely moved his head,  but he could take it. He could take it so much that anyone with an ounce of brain had to wonder how LONG his chin would hold up. In 2021, Joyce was comparing himself to George Foreman.

Back then, he was undefeated and held the WBO International, WBC Silver, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. He knocked out Christian Hammer in typical Joyce fashion. He allowed Hammer, the loser in three of his preceding five bouts, to tag him with several clean right hands. After that, he beat Hammer down.

Next up was former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. Parker had recently beaten Derek Chisora twice and was feeling pretty good about himself. That feeling was gone after Joyce knocked him out in round 11. Parker, a knockout artist in 21 of 29 professional fights, landed some hellacious shots, but Joyce shook them off and kept coming forward.

Parker had landed an ungodly 124 power punches. Was Joyce human?

Yes, but it took China’s giant, Zhilei Zhang, to prove it.

Zhang destroyed Joyce’s right eye. As the fight wore on, the always gutsy Joyce was absorbing blows, but, shockingly, the Iron Man was wobbled, not once, but three times. The writing was on the wall. Zhang won by stoppage.

A rematch had to happen. It did five months later. Joyce tried to box. Zhang pounded on him like a heavy bag. A right put Joyce down in round three. He didn’t beat the count. He was back six months later and won, but the word lackluster was used to describe his performance.

The retirement talk was becoming more than chatter. He fought warhorse Derek Chisora two years ago in London. Joyce was a 4-1 favorite, but Chisora showed more energy to edge Joyce over 10 rounds. He took some time off and then met Flip Hrgovic in a crossroads fight. Both were coming off losses and needed a win.

Hrgovic landed a whopping 206 power punches to Joyce’s 73. The fight went the distance, with Hrgovic winning.

Now what? The calls for retirement were louder, but Joyce was back in there against Artem Suslenov last weekend.

Joyce did well in the early going, but the younger fighter’s punches were landing consistently. Joyce stopped fighting in round 11, backing off and raising his glove as a signal that he didn’t want to do this anymore.

Former opponent Chisora claimed boxing retired Joyce, but I see it as a deeper realization. Johnny Nelson and Hrgovic expressed concerns for his health.

I want him to be OK. Say you want regarding his boxing ability, but there was never a question about his courage.

He walked through fire for years, but the sudden understanding of his truth might have been the guttiest thing he’s ever done.