Heavyweight contender Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce 15-0 (14) has been compared to legendary two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman by a major player in boxing.
American promoter Lou DiBella believes the 37-year-old Londoner would present a stern test to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 33-0-1 (24) than unified champion Oleksandr Usyk 20-0 (13).
Fury, 34, is in negotiations to face WBA, WBO and IBF champion Usyk early in the new year. The 35-year-old Ukrainian southpaw is coming off back-to-back points wins over former two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua 24-3 (22).
Despite the sublime skills of Usyk, DiBella rates Joyce as the most dangerous heavyweight without a world title.
Asked by SecondsOut who he thought would present a tougher fight for Fury between Usyk and Joyce, DiBella replied: “Probably Joyce. He reminds me of the second coming of George Foreman. I consider that a great compliment.”
Foreman was one of the most concussive boxers in fistic history, eventually retiring with a record of 76-5 (68). If you remove his losses, that’s a knockout ratio of over 84%.
DiBella has no professional relationship with Joyce, but sees something in his that he thinks is special.
“The way I spew about big Joe, you’d think I have something to do with him, but I don’t. I just do as a fan,” DiBella said. “He’s an old school, physically strong, relentless heavyweight, and I love watching him. I think he’s fun to watch. Usyk, because he’s so skilled, he’s so hyper-skilled, he’s going to give anybody a fight.
“Usyk is a better boxer than virtually everyone. In the heavyweight division, it’s a big gap with most but the gap with Fury is the smallest with Usyk. That says to me that Fury is the most difficult fight in the world for Usyk. Joe Joyce, it’s hard to hurt the guy. He’s a freaking monster. He’s got these short, heavy hands. You can see the punches coming and he’s still going to hurt you. He’s relentless.”
Joyce scored a breakthrough win over then-undefeated Daniel Dubois two years ago when he stopped him in the 10th with a fractured left eye socket.
Since then he has gone from strength to strength, stopping Carlos Takam, Christian Hammer and former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
Fury has previously said he hopes to face Joyce in 2023. That fight would fill a stadium in the UK.
“I hope Fury is a man of his word and fights me next. Beat up Usyk and then fight me next,” Joyce said to SecondsOut.
Joyce said Fury’s co-promoter Queensberry Promotions has indicated that he will be next in line if the WBC champ defeats Usyk.
“Yeah, I believe so because I think that’s next to be ordered or whatever happens; I’m going to get to the top of the division and be heavyweight champion,” Joyce said.
