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Heavyweight boxer Joe Joyce believes he will knock two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua out should the two meet in the ring.
Joyce is currently high in demand, but following his latest showing against Joseph Parker, he is not popular among other heavyweights and will not have a free reign at picking an opponent.
Joyce’s performance of power, stamina and durability put the division on notice, and ever since he has been answering questions about how he would fare against other top fighters.
Asked by IFL TV about facing the former champion and British superstar, Joyce was confident in his abilities.
“He gets knocked out. He gets bashed up. His last performances haven’t really impressed me. I think his second fight against Usyk was better, but that would be an interesting fight and I’d love to get some revenge.”
The revenge he’s referring to could mean many things. Joshua beat Joyce via a first-round stoppage at the 2011 English National Championship London Area Preliminaries when the pair was amateurs.
Another reason Joyce might consider as motivation to beat Joshua is the recent animosity between their camps, with sparring footage leaks and big words exchanged. It’s an unlikely rivalry given that the two fighters are generally known for their peaceful and polite fight build-ups.
Later in the interview, Joyce is asked to compare his latest victory over Parker to when Joshua bested Parker back in 2018.
“Well I knocked him out, (didn’t I)? I punched him up and got him out of there, with all due respect (to) Parker.”
Joshua took the victory via points when he faced the New Zealander four years ago. In fact, last Saturday, Joyce became the first man to stop Parker with a KO which came from a beautifully timed left hook in the eleventh round after plenty of punishment had already been dealt to both men by each other
Joyce will now rest before taking on another big challenge and making his way ever closer to a title shot.
As for Joshua, the future of a British super-fight with Tyson Fury remains in suspense with Fury calling it off while the promoters insist it will still go through.