When it comes to evenly contested match-ups, Saturday’s bout between 2016 Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce, and former world champion Joseph Parker, who holds a win over Andy Ruiz Jr., is about as good as they come.
The bout airing on ESPN+, for U.S. fight fans, will see two of the top fighters vying for a WBO interim heavyweight world title, which will allow them to get a big fight against one of the biggest names of the heavyweight division. So, in short, the fight is for legacy and relevance.
Despite being indifferent points in their career, Joyce looking to reach the mountain of the heavyweight division, and Parker looking to regain his foot at the top of the rock after his losses to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte - it is Parker who is seven-years younger than Joyce.
Joyce is a 37-year-old boxer, with fourteen pro fights, in contrast, Parker has 32 professional fights despite being younger.
Parker most notably had two very good fights with Derek Chisora recently, and is most known for his speed and agility. Joyce is known for his nickname “The Juggernaut”, as he comes forward not unlike the X-Men villain, and accumulates a lot of damage on his opponent in the process.
It is sink or swim for both, as Parker rebuilt his career, and Joyce needs a “big fight” in the future. A win here gets the winner in the picture to be a bonafide world champion, and main eventing marquee events in the future.
Despite being under the radar to some, this is a fight that matters.
