Undefeated heavyweight Joe Joyce, WBO interim heavyweight champion, is not surprised that he is not in the conversation to face fellow Briton and former two-time unified world champion Anthony Joshua. Joyce aims to follow up his stellar 2022 with a world title opportunity or a big-name fight opportunity. A fight with Anthony Joshua would fit those criteria considering Joshua’s profile, achievements and position within the heavyweight ranks.
However, Joyce will not hold his breath on an opportunity to fight his former amateur stablemate. The promoter of Joshua, Eddie Hearn, in recent times has spoken of Joshua fighting the likes of Deontay Wilder, and Dillian Whyte whilse ignoring Joyce’s current status as WBO interim champion. If a fight was to take place between the pair the winner would become mandatory for either Oleksandr Usyk (WBA, WBO, IBF & IBO) or Tyson Fury (WBC & Ring Magazine) if that particular pairing was to face each other and fight for the undisputed title in the process.
Joyce in speaking to ID Boxing says that he is not surprised at Joshua’s refusal to mention his name and that the former unified champion is apprehensive about facing him on the fear that he may get knocked out.
“It’s not a surprise because when does Joshua mention my name? Apart from when I was in the Olympics, soon as I turned pro, he didn’t mention my name or Eddie Hearn," Joyce told ID Boxing.
“If you’re not with us you’re against us and I don’t have millions of followers like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury yet. Maybe it’s because I don’t have enough followers. If people want to see it lets, make it happen. I guess it just needs to be built up and when he has no choice but to fight me, he will fight me. But it’s a big fight, Olympic gold versus Olympic silver. Maybe the medals could be swapped, I think I’m more deserving.
“He’s not gun shy but he’s apprehensive about being knocked out because he’s been knocked out a few times. He prefers to be on the back foot and out of danger. It will tell when we see the rematch with him and Dillian Whyte.
“Because in the Dillian Whyte fight, he was getting hit with big shots, he was wobbling on his feet but was still coming forward. Something obviously changed after the Ruiz loss but he’s still a good fighter and there’s plenty of interesting fights for him and I’d like to fight him as well.”
