Joe Joyce expects fireworks when the time comes for him to share a ring with Anthony Joshua. Highly ranked by the WBO, Joyce is the mandatory challenger for whoever wins between Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk when the pair clash on September 25th at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Joyce, who knows both fighters extremely well, solidified his right to face autumn’s victor with a crushing sixth-round stoppage over France’s Carlos Takam last weekend. With his world title challenge likely to occur in 2022, Joyce, who’s picking Joshua to edge past Usyk, believes his style will clash well with his former amateur colleague.
"I haven't spoken to him for ages. I haven't tried either,” said Joyce when speaking to Sky Sports. "He's a fellow GB team-mate, but we could be fighting very soon. He's always been a step ahead anyway. I've always been a stage behind. Now I've worked my way up, so I should be challenging him soon.
"When you're the same weight, you're probably going to fight. You always have that in the back of your mind. We had some great spars over the years and it was very competitive, so it would be one hell of a fight, if he wants it.”