Carlos Takam believes that Joe Joyce will be taken aback by the level at which he performs when they meet on July.
Joyce had been expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk this summer as part of a WBO eliminator, but the Ukrainian has since earned a mandatory challenge against Anthony Joshua after Tyson Fury was unable to skip free from his obligation for a trilogy rematch against Deontay Wilder.
Joyce will now put his WBO international heavyweight and WBC silver titles on the line against the French fighter, who had also been lined up as a potential opponent for Fury at the end of last year.
Joyce has not been in action since last year since he forced Daniel Dubois to take a knee in November last year, inflicting defeat on the young Londoner for the first time in his career.
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, Takam said: “It’s going to be a big test for Joe Joyce.
“For me it’s not a test, because I’ve fought other people like [Alexander] Povetkin, [Anthony] Joshua, I’ve fought a lot of big names. So, for me it’s just to prove for my UK fans that I’m back and I’m a problem in that division.
“Joe Joyce has a good ranking, yes but the ranking is because maybe you have a good promoter, you have a good manager they make you a good ranking, that’s it, for me rankings don’t matter.
“Joe Joyce has never fought somebody like me. I have experience, I move everywhere in the ring, I don’t go straight to my opponent.”
Takam does not believe that 6’6” Joyce’s five-inch height advantage will be a problem.
“I always enjoy fighting taller guys,” the 40-year-old veteran explained.
“Taller guys don’t make me scared, I like to fight taller guys, I’m prepared to fight taller guys.”
“You’re going to be surprised, I’m waiting for that fight. You think you can beat me by knockout or by TKO, no way! That’s not going to happen.
“I’m coming to the UK this time to win not to lose. I’m going to win my fight definitely, that’s going to be a war. No way am I going to let Joe Joyce beat me, I’m sorry. I’m sorry young guy but this is my time.
“He has a good jab like he did Dubois, with the jab, jab, jab every time. I think if you know how to stop Joe Joyce’s jabs, you will win the fight.”