02-16-2022, 10:51 AM
Joe Joyce to table offer for Joseph Parker fight
Duncan Johnstone
Joe Joyce is keen to keep active as he awaits a world heavyweight title shot.
Joe Joyce’s management are set to table an offer to fight Joseph Parker in a heavyweight clash that has the makings of a British blockbuster.
London-based Joyce is 13-0 with 12 knockouts as a professional after winning silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He has rapidly advanced to No 1 behind champion Oleksandr Usyk in the WBO rankings. Parker is No 2 with that organisation, so the mandatory challenging position would be on the line.
With Parker’s stocks in the UK sky-high following his impressive win over Dereck Chisora in Manchester late last year, the fight would have massive appeal and could be highly lucrative for the Kiwi, a former WBO champion desperate to get another title shot.
“There are a lot of talks … we are going to make them an offer,” said Shane Watson, part of Joyce’s management team at S-Jam Boxing, in an interview with IFL TV, targetting a possible date in May.
“There are some fragile things around the matter that I can't go too deep into, but it’s a fight that Joe (Joyce) definitely wants, he’s up for.
“I’m sure it’s a fight that Parker wants, knowing the kind of fighter that Joesph Parker is, and knowing how David Higgins is, I assume it’s a fight that he would like.”
“It’s a great fight, No 1 versus No 2 in the WBO. Outside of the heavyweight (title) collision course, it’s probably the best fight to make in the division. I think that fight sells itself.
“But we have to wait and see. These fights are not easy to make. Everyone wants the right deal and the best for their guy, including us, so we will see where we go with this.”
Higgins, Parker’s manager, has been on both sides of the Atlantic in recent weeks looking at the best options for Parker in Britain and the United States.
A rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr, the Mexican-American Parker beat to win the WBO title in Auckland in 2016, has appeal to the Kiwi camp, believing it could finally announce their man on the US stage.
But the busy British scene remains tantalising.
Joyce is certainly on Higgins’ radar. He recently told Sky Sports in the UK he felt that fight would be capable of “selling out the O2 Arena” in London, and confirmed Parker was awaiting an offer.
"He fought Chisora and dominated him so his brand equity in the world and United Kingdom is at an all-time high," Higgins told Sky Sports.
Kiwi duo Joseph Parker and David Nyika are put through their paces by trainer Andy Lee at Tyson Fury's Morecambe gym.
"We almost feel like it is a home crowd and he's obviously been on a lot of big PPV shows in the UK as well.
“We would not take him for granted, almost a 50/50 type fight which the fans would obviously love.
"The Joyce team have reached out to us and said they're going to make written offer. Both sides have talked about May timing, so we'll see what that offer looks like."
Higgins felt the more experienced Parker had an edge, especially on his blossoming work under new coach Andy Lee.
"I think Joseph Parker would win because I think he's looking better fight by fight, so I think if he continues to improve he'll make reasonable work of Joyce and put him away," Higgins said.
"And obviously their side will think Joyce will win, he's got a great chin, durable, got a big punch, he's got a lot going for him. It's one of those 50/50 type match-ups and the winner could be mandatory for WBO. It's a fight that should happen at some stage."
Duncan Johnstone
Joe Joyce is keen to keep active as he awaits a world heavyweight title shot.
Joe Joyce’s management are set to table an offer to fight Joseph Parker in a heavyweight clash that has the makings of a British blockbuster.
London-based Joyce is 13-0 with 12 knockouts as a professional after winning silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He has rapidly advanced to No 1 behind champion Oleksandr Usyk in the WBO rankings. Parker is No 2 with that organisation, so the mandatory challenging position would be on the line.
With Parker’s stocks in the UK sky-high following his impressive win over Dereck Chisora in Manchester late last year, the fight would have massive appeal and could be highly lucrative for the Kiwi, a former WBO champion desperate to get another title shot.
“There are a lot of talks … we are going to make them an offer,” said Shane Watson, part of Joyce’s management team at S-Jam Boxing, in an interview with IFL TV, targetting a possible date in May.
“There are some fragile things around the matter that I can't go too deep into, but it’s a fight that Joe (Joyce) definitely wants, he’s up for.
“I’m sure it’s a fight that Parker wants, knowing the kind of fighter that Joesph Parker is, and knowing how David Higgins is, I assume it’s a fight that he would like.”
“It’s a great fight, No 1 versus No 2 in the WBO. Outside of the heavyweight (title) collision course, it’s probably the best fight to make in the division. I think that fight sells itself.
“But we have to wait and see. These fights are not easy to make. Everyone wants the right deal and the best for their guy, including us, so we will see where we go with this.”
Higgins, Parker’s manager, has been on both sides of the Atlantic in recent weeks looking at the best options for Parker in Britain and the United States.
A rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr, the Mexican-American Parker beat to win the WBO title in Auckland in 2016, has appeal to the Kiwi camp, believing it could finally announce their man on the US stage.
But the busy British scene remains tantalising.
Joyce is certainly on Higgins’ radar. He recently told Sky Sports in the UK he felt that fight would be capable of “selling out the O2 Arena” in London, and confirmed Parker was awaiting an offer.
"He fought Chisora and dominated him so his brand equity in the world and United Kingdom is at an all-time high," Higgins told Sky Sports.
Kiwi duo Joseph Parker and David Nyika are put through their paces by trainer Andy Lee at Tyson Fury's Morecambe gym.
"We almost feel like it is a home crowd and he's obviously been on a lot of big PPV shows in the UK as well.
“We would not take him for granted, almost a 50/50 type fight which the fans would obviously love.
"The Joyce team have reached out to us and said they're going to make written offer. Both sides have talked about May timing, so we'll see what that offer looks like."
Higgins felt the more experienced Parker had an edge, especially on his blossoming work under new coach Andy Lee.
"I think Joseph Parker would win because I think he's looking better fight by fight, so I think if he continues to improve he'll make reasonable work of Joyce and put him away," Higgins said.
"And obviously their side will think Joyce will win, he's got a great chin, durable, got a big punch, he's got a lot going for him. It's one of those 50/50 type match-ups and the winner could be mandatory for WBO. It's a fight that should happen at some stage."