Joe Joyce provided a timely reminder that he’s a significant threat in the heavyweight division as he bludgeoned Christian Hammer in four rounds.
Inactive for almost a year, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist wanted to prove a point, and he did that by dropping the German veteran four times before the bout was halted in the fourth session.
During the first round, there were some concerns in Joyce’s corner as he failed to defend himself against Hammer’s onslaught. The 34-year-old visitor wasn’t fancied to do much against Joyce, but he gave a solid account of himself in the first round as he continually landed right hands on Joyce’s granite chin.
In the third stanza, Joyce began to take over, and although the bout was less than ten minutes old, Hammer was visibly feeling the pace as he chose to rest on the ropes. However, after being dropped at the end of the third round, the writing was on the wall for Hammer, and after hitting the floor three times in the following round, the bout was called off.
Highly ranked with the WBO, Joyce is surely next in line for the winner of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Anthony Joshua. An all-British showdown with Tyson Fury could also be a possibility. Joyce has worked himself into a superb position in the rankings, and now is the time for the unbeaten star to capitalise on his rating.
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