Joe Joyce Looking to Take Out Joseph Parker by Knockout!
Generally speaking, whenever he is conducting himself in the public light, heavyweight fighter Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce (14-0, 13 KO’s) carries himself like a likable gentleman. He is frequently seen smiling and even when dealing threats, they are routinely ushered in and trailed by jokes and chuckles. This was certainly the case when the #1 (WBO) and #2 (WBC) bruiser declared his desire to flatten Joseph “Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa” Parker (30-2, 21 KO’s) in their upcoming September duel.
RELATED: Joseph Parker: “I Know I’ll Beat Up Joyce; I’ll Be Too Fast For Him“
Funny enough, the chummy knuckle-chucker doesn’t have much ill will toward the New Zealander or his team. Yet, Andy Lee, chief second to Joseph Parker, has assured that his man will toss Joyce a memorable beating. Clearly, as told to BT Sport Boxing, these words have resonated with Juggernaut in a way that Team Parker may not care for!
“He is definitely going to come at me with full force. I expect him to be technical, good head movement, light footwork and especially working with Andy Lee, who talked very highly of him! Andy thinks he is going to wipe the floor with me…but we’ll find out Saturday night! […] Joe Joyce by knockout, or stoppage, as I am aim to entertain and get an explosive knockout, preferably in the mid to late rounds. Or the early ones, I don’t know let’s see, let’s see!”
NOT A BACKWARDS STEP!
Unlike Parker, ranked #2 (WBO), #3 (WBC) and #11 (WBA), Joyce has never enjoyed the feel of a full world title wrapped around his waist. Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa beat Andy Ruiz to claim the vacant WBO heavyweight strap back in 2016. He even defended it twice; first against Razvan Cojanu and then Hughie Fury. Regrettably for him, Parker would lose the title to Anthony Joshua two years later in 2018. For his part though, Juggernaut has collected a slew of secondary titles but never the true crown jewel.
Also, while it’s Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa with the pair of blemishes on his record, at 37, it’s Juggernaut who has 40 breathing down his neck! Said to say, at his age, Joyce can ill afford to take a major step backwards in the rankings. Yet, whoever prevails in the impeding Joyce versus Parker saga will walk away with the vacant WBO Interim title. Obviously this puts the victor on a direct crash course with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. This is sure to provide the lighthearted pugilist tremendous motivation. So let’s enjoy the tough talk for now, then wait to see what the big men do in the ring.
By: Bakari Simpson
