Former Olympian Joe Joyce may have left it too late in his career to become a world champion, according to Sergio Mora.
The one-time light middleweight fighter thinks that Joyce’s age will count against him, as well as the concentration of titles between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, who hold all four major belts, as well as The Ring title and the IBO strap.
Speaking on JABS as part of the DAZN Boxing Show, Mora explained that it is hard to see a way forward for the fighter.
“It might be a while and a while is what Joe Joyce doesn't have at 35 years old,” he began.
“He's going to be 36 next month. No, I don't think he does become a champion because all the belts are tied up right now. And I just don't see him getting a shot versus a fighter that he can beat. I don't think he beats Fury. I don't think he beats Joshua.
“I think a fight with Deontay Wilder, that'd be explosive, very entertaining. Both are more than 35 years old, both about the same height, and they both are vulnerable. defensively. There'll be an exciting fight. But Wilder needs to pick up a title for Joe to get that opportunity.
“Against [Oleksandr] Usyk... I would love to see what it looked like when it was a 10 rounder. But I still think that Joyce is too big, six too athletic, and I just don't think it happens.”
Despite the difficulty of landing a title, Mora still thought that Joyce had a profitable last few years left, and did not completely dismiss his hopes.
“Joe Joyce may not pick up the title, but we could pick up championship money along the way,” he told Chris Mannix.
“Anytime you're six foot six, big puncher that could take a big shot, you're going to be a threat no matter who you fight.
“He has a short sneaky right hand but he times everything with the long jab, he gets fighters desperate to land something, and he lets you hit him sometimes. But that's when he catches you with those big punches.
"He is just very disciplined with that punch and any fighter, anytime you have a champion, a heavyweight champion with a disciplined powerful jab, you're going to go a long way.”