Joe Joyce insists he is ‘ready to step in’ and face Tyson Fury after the Gypsy King’s undisputed showdown against Oleksandr Usyk went up in smoke – and believes the fight would be ‘easy to make’.
Fury and Usyk have been negotiating one of the biggest fights in boxing in recent months and looked to have finally reached agreement after the Ukrainian conceded a 70-30 split in a fight for all the marbles in the heavyweight division.
But with Fury increasing his demands and pitching a no-rematch clause, talks have been scrapped and Joyce has thrown his hat into the ring to produce an all-British dust-up.
Joyce – the WBO interim fighter who has racked up some impressive recent wins, including a KO of Fury’s pal Joseph Parker – has been pining for a title shot for some time.
He is a close friend of the heavyweight champion, who has also mooted Joyce as a future opponent, and the Juggernaut says it would be straightforward to organise with the pair both fighting under promoter Frank Warren.
Joe Joyce has thrown his hat in the ring to face Tyson Fury after his fight against Oleksandr Usyk went up in smoke
Fury was set for an undisputed showdown against Usyk but the pair could not agree terms
Joyce – who also called out Fury last year – is set to fight Chinese fighter Zhilei Zhang on April 15 but is clear to take on the Gypsy King in the summer as an alternative to Usyk.
‘Yeah I’m ready to step in,’ he told Sportsmail. ‘I’m scheduled to fight Zhang first – that’s a massive fight – so I’ll do that first. Fury said he wanted to face me if he didn’t fight Usyk. Of course I’ve go to beat up big Zhilei first.
‘It would be very easy to set up. We’re both with Frank Warren. He’s already said he wants to fight me, it’s a great fight. People are interested in seeing that fight.
‘It’s exciting times for me – I would have liked to see the undisputed fight happen first and then take it from there. That would be more straightforward. But I’m in a great position, I’m the WBO interim, I’m happy, focused and ready.’
Boxing fans have been left frustrated after seeing yet another promising contest vanish into thin air. The public have already been let down by Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr’s bout being called off after the former failed a drugs test. Fury’s talks with Anthony Joshua also went nowhere after they failed to reach agreement.
Joyce faces Zhilei Zhang in April but – should he beat him – hopes to set up a British clash after
Joyce – who called out Fury last year – believes a showdown would be ‘very easy to make’
Joyce understands from the boxer’s perspective that making a big fight is no walk in the park, but cannot foresee any issues in finalising a deal to fight Fury if the opportunity arises.
‘I get it,’ Joyce added. ‘You want things to be favourable for both sides. It’s a lot of money and it’s a big fight. There’s a lot on the line, so you want the legal and business side handled well. There’s a big responsibility.
‘On paper it should be a pretty easy fight to make. Fury and Usyk [negotiations] look like they’ve been pretty hard, but you can only do what’s available to you. Fury is close to being available for me, so I just hope things pan out the way they need to for the best of everyone’s entertainment. Everyone wants to see a good fight.’
While Joyce still waits for a title shot, it appears his old rival Daniel Dubois is set to challenge for Usyk’s WBA, WBO and IBF belts as the WBA mandatory.
Joyce stopped promising fighter Dubois in 2021 so can feel a little hard done by should he get a world title shot before him.
‘I’m not surprised by anything in boxing,’ he said. ‘I just get on with what I need to do and progress in my career and get the best out of it. I’m looking to be in some great fights this year and next year. It can be very frustrating at times, but things go on and fights happen, so let’s make the [Fury] fight happen. Please!’
Joshua has also been a suggested opponent for Joyce. The Watford-born star faces Jermaine Franklin on April 1, but Joyce believes their showdown might have to come a little later down the line.
The Juggernaut also believes he would wear down Usyk in a fight – but doesn’t think the Ukrainian wants to face him
‘That’s a good fight – but I think the route for Joshua is the Franklin fight and then the Dillian Whyte rematch. That would be great if his third fight can be against me.’
Joshua is looking to rebuild after two damaging losses against Usyk, who Joyce lost to on a decision in the amateurs. While Usyk looks like a force of nature and one of the pound for pound greats, Joyce believes he could get the better of him this time around by peppering him with shots and breaking him down over 12 rounds.
However, he is not convinced that the 36-year-old actually wants to fight him in the near future.
‘It would have to be a firefight,’ he added. ‘A bit like my first one with him but now we’re coming with more experience – I’ve had 10 years in the sport and it would be a different fight now. I’m not sure if he’s willing to fight me though.
‘I think Usyk is a great fighter, he’s shown his engine and durability in the Joshua fights.
‘He’s very quick and shown he’s got a great chin, but I think I’d wear him down over the 12 rounds.’
