Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joe Joyce - Discussed

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk vs. Joyce Clash is Being Discussed, Says Frank W

Frank W, promoter for Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce, reveals that there are ongoing discussions to make a fight with Oleksandr Usyk - in what would be a clash for the interim-WBO heavyweight title.

Usyk is the mandatory challenger to the WBO title. Joyce is sitting in the number 2 position within the WBO's rankings.

Anthony Joshua, who holds the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA world titles, is in serious negotiations to finalize a two-fight series with WBC champion Tyson Fury. The first bout of that series would take place in May or June, at a location to be determined.

To make Joshua-Fury a reality, there would have to be a step-aside agreement reached with Usyk.

If Joshua were to vacate the WBO title, the sanctioning body would order a fight between Usyk and Joyce.

“We’re working on, at the moment, Usyk and Joe Joyce. I think the WBO will order that as an interim-title fight so we’re working hard to make that happen. The situation is that the WBO have said they’d like to do that fight as an eliminator. We have no objection to that and I don’t think Usyk has," Warren told IFL TV.

“There’s been some preliminary talks and we’ll see where we go from there. I hope [the fight will get made]. It’s a good fight and I think whoever wins it, based on his last performance, Joe’s looking really good.

“If he comes through it, it puts the winner in a tremendous position. The eventual winner of the two fights between Tyson and AJ will have to defend against Joyce or Usyk, or vacate the belt.”

Both Joyce and Usyk picked up big wins in 2020.

Joyce captured the EBU title and the WBO's number two ranking with a knockout win over unbeaten Daniel Dubois. And Usyk won a tough twelve round unanimous decision over division veteran Derek Chisora.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hearn: Usyk Should Fight Joyce For WBO-Interim, It Could Become Full Title

Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, WBO, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, has floated a different path for Oleksandr Usyk to pursue.

Having said that, if Usyk faces Joyce for the interim-title - the belt could potentially be upgraded to the full title.

"Once they’ve fought for the undisputed championship, after that if the belts get fragmented then so be it," Hearn told Sky Sports’ Toe2Toe podcast.

"I’d just love that moment to see AJ as undisputed champion. You can say to Usyk, 'set your fight with Joe Joyce maybe for the interim belt, or after that it becomes the full championship.' Usyk is a classy guy, he’s a boxing guy through-and-through, he will see that Fury vs AJ is so good for the sport of boxing.

"Does he want to stop the undisputed heavyweight world championship fight? The fans won’t like it if he does as well. But we can’t just disrespect him and say, 'sorry mate you have to wait.' The answer I see is for Usyk to fight Joe Joyce.

"Now is a pivotal time in terms of belts and politics. We can’t afford in boxing right now to be restricted by the rules and requirements of governing bodies. Yes AJ vs Usyk is a great fight and Fury vs [Deontay]Wilder III is a good fight, but let’s be honest, it will be a let down for everybody if we don’t see this fight next. Talks are progressing really well. I’m confident that late May, early June, we will see that fight."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Warren: A Joyce-Usyk Fight Puts Winner In Tremendous Position

The only direction is forward for Joe Joyce.

On the heels of a career-best 10th round knockout of Daniel Dubois last November, the 35-year old Joyce (12-0, 11KOs) is now being groomed for the title stage in 2021. An aggressive schedule is already being planned by promoter Frank, beginning with a potential clash with unbeaten former World cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs).

“We are working on the moment, Usyk and Joe Joyce,” Warren told IFL TV’s Umar Ahmed on Monday of the possible fight. “The WBO are willing to make that an interim title fight so we are working hard to make that happen. It’s one of the fights we’re working on with Joe.”

Sources inform Boxing Scene that both camps have already entered such talks, which are currently in the preliminary stage. The stakes could ultimately dictate Usyk’s level of interest, given his current position as the mandatory challenger to the WBO title currently held by unified WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO champ Anthony Joshua (24-1, 22KOs).

Joyce soared towards the top of the WBO and WBC heavyweight ratings following his breakout win over Dubois in their memorable battle of unbeaten rising contenders. It was a significant step up for the 2016 Olympic Silver medalist from London, who one year prior outlasted former title challenger Bryant Jennings in a 12-round decision, the July 2019 clash marking the lone time Joyce has been extended the distance as a pro.

The win over Dubois came with the intention of eventually challenging for a heavyweight title in 2021. That could prove problematic, as WBC/Lineal champion Tyson Fury and Joshua are in advanced talks for a titanic showdown which all parties involved—including Warren, Fury’s co-promoter—hope to stage in the first half of the year.

Joshua carries the baggage of an overdue mandatory title defense owed to Usyk, who emerged as the number-one WBO heavyweight contender upon moving up from cruiserweight in 2019. Two fights have followed, including a 12-round decision win over veteran gatekeeper and former title challenger Derek Chisora last Halloween.

Usyk has since insisted that his next fight will be for the WBO heavyweight crown, regardless of whether it comes versus Joshua or in a vacant title fight. A fight with the promise of an upgrade or a straightaway shot at the Fury-Joshua winner could remedy the solution—provided he survive the challenge of the naturally bigger 6’6” Joyce.

“The WBO have said they’d like to do that fight as [an interim title fight],” notes Warren. “We certainly don’t have any objection and I don’t believe Usyk would either.

“It puts the winner–hopefully Joe—in a tremendous position. It puts them in with the winner of the two fights with Tyson and AJ. They can vacate or they can defend the WBO belt against Joe, or Usyk if he pulls through.”

[Finkel]

As much as I look forward to seeing Joyce progress further. I am not exactly sure what would motivate Usyk to take this fight. He is the WBO mandatory already.

If I were him I would stand fast, and if Joshua won't fight him next and is resultantly stripped, THEN fight Joyce for the belt, or possibly Parker depending on the Fa outcome.

[skanksta]

Usyk could be given step aside money AND get well paid for this keep-busy fight on the undercard to AJ vs TGK AND do half the work promoting his own PPV fight against whoever all at the same time.
Win-win-win ?

[emallini]

Good fight hope it gets made.

[Ruthless-RKO]

As much as I look forward to seeing Joyce progress further. I am not exactly sure what would motivate Usyk to take this fight. He is the WBO mandatory already.

If I were him I would stand fast, and if Joshua won't fight him next and is resultantly stripped, THEN fight Joyce for the belt, or possibly Parker depending on the Fa outcome.

Could be for the Interim WBO belt.

Step aside money + purse for an intnerim title shot, eventually, he'll either become the full champion or the full champion will have to fight him.

[deadpan]

This is a fascinating fight. Really hope it happens. I'm a big fan of both so be hard to know who to cheer for. Usyk on points I think, but Joyce will keep on coming.

[JC]

Usyk pretty soundly outboxed Joyce in the WSB. Maybe the longer distance gives him a better chance since Usyk's style is very energy intensive. Having a guy that much bigger coming after you for 12 rounds must be tough. But the obvious pick is Usyk points.

[maverick23]

Good fight but I’d be surprised if Frank can stage it without PpV. Is Joyce vs Usyk big enough for a PPV now?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Good fight but I’d be surprised if Frank can stage it without PpV. Is Joyce vs Usyk big enough for a PPV now?

Who knows.. is Frank gonna have full promotional rights.

[mickey1975]

Joyce ko. Late

No

[DrDuke]

Fury-Joshua must happen next, so this fight sounds logical in this case.

I'd pick Usyk to outbox Joyce. Of course, they both improved since their WSB bout and Joyce now is more threatening to Usyk, but I think, that Usyk's superior movement and handspeed still is a key. Usyk also can take a punch. Joyce shouldn't impose a jab contest like against Dubois, Usyk is a wrong man to do that against. Joyce's chance to win is in the roughhouse tactics. He has power, size and durability to do it, he should try to bully Usyk, especially early, as Usyk has often blown the early rounds. Yet still I believe, Usyk will manage to survive the early intensity, to outslick and outpoint Joyce.

[Finkel]

As much as I look forward to seeing Joyce progress further. I am not exactly sure what would motivate Usyk to take this fight. He is the WBO mandatory already.

If I were him I would stand fast, and if Joshua won't fight him next and is resultantly stripped, THEN fight Joyce for the belt, or possibly Parker depending on the Fa outcome.

Could be for the Interim WBO belt.

Step aside money + purse for an intnerim title shot, eventually, he'll either become the full champion or the full champion will have to fight him.

Well that's just the thing, if it's for an interim title. With him then becoming champion via email. How much leverage or legacy is he going to have holding a cast off belt when we have an undisputed champion.

[Ruthless-RKO]

As much as I look forward to seeing Joyce progress further. I am not exactly sure what would motivate Usyk to take this fight. He is the WBO mandatory already.

If I were him I would stand fast, and if Joshua won't fight him next and is resultantly stripped, THEN fight Joyce for the belt, or possibly Parker depending on the Fa outcome.

Could be for the Interim WBO belt.

Step aside money + purse for an intnerim title shot, eventually, he'll either become the full champion or the full champion will have to fight him.

Well that's just the thing, if it's for an interim title. With him then becoming champion via email. How much leverage or legacy is he going to have holding a cast off belt when we have an undisputed champion.

Think of it this way, is Joshua vacates today, it's likely Usyk vs. Joyce for the WBO belt isn't it? Tey're just keeping the boxers busy and not wasting their time.

[Finkel]

Could be for the Interim WBO belt.

Step aside money + purse for an intnerim title shot, eventually, he'll either become the full champion or the full champion will have to fight him.

Well that's just the thing, if it's for an interim title. With him then becoming champion via email. How much leverage or legacy is he going to have holding a cast off belt when we have an undisputed champion.

Think of it this way, is Joshua vacates today, it's likely Usyk vs. Joyce for the WBO belt isn't it? Tey're just keeping the boxers busy and not wasting their time.

Well if Joshua vacates now, then Usyk/Joyce after becoming the WBO champion would be able to engage in "the fight for undisputed" with the winner of Joshua/Fury. Which I imagine would generate far more income (enable Usyk/Joyce to demand a greater split) than if Joshua/Fury drop the belt after becoming undisputed champion.

[Jimmy2020]

Good fight. Get it on.

[Verdi]

Keeping a 19 stone guy with relentless pressure at bay for 5 rounds is one thing, doing it for 12 is another. Although I'd put Usyk as the favourite, I wouldn't be surprised if Joyce could stop him in the late rounds.

[maverick23]

I just listened to Joe and Adam Moralee’s IFL interview yesterday. They’ve got Queensbury by the balls. Openly say they want Joe to be the face of BT Boxing and they’ll be able to use a potential move to Sky/Matchroom to negotiate their contract with BT up a good chunk.

[Jimmy2020]

I'm not sure making Joe the face of BT Boxing is a good move for anybody other than Joe. He's a big, tough, fit man but he's boring to watch. That fight against Dubois was a snore-fest.

[emallini]

[Cyclops]

Keeping a 19 stone guy with relentless pressure at bay for 5 rounds is one thing, doing it for 12 is another. Although I'd put Usyk as the favourite, I wouldn't be surprised if Joyce could stop him in the late rounds.

That WSB fight also happened absolutely yonks ago when he was an Olympic Gold medallist and Joyce had been boxing for about two years. That was the first time I'd seen Joyce box and I've tipped him to be a player eventually ever since: that very inexperienced version of Joyce might have lost every round but he was relentless, took everything Usyk threw at him and certainly landed on Usyk. They're both old, but Joyce appears significantly fresher and, unless he's playing possum Usyk has not looked impressive thus far at heavyweight. I was shocked by how Chisora was able throw him around in their fight, how red Usyk's body was by the 3rd round (Joyce is a vicious body puncher) and David Haye did a far better job on a younger and fresher Delboy years ago. I think it's a good 50/50 fight, although obviously I'll be rooting for Slow Joe.

Like I said before the Dubois fight, just keep on bringing up and posting the WSB fight and get me some wicket odds at the bookies again Thanks guys!

[Verdi]

Keeping a 19 stone guy with relentless pressure at bay for 5 rounds is one thing, doing it for 12 is another. Although I'd put Usyk as the favourite, I wouldn't be surprised if Joyce could stop him in the late rounds.

That WSB fight also happened absolutely yonks ago when he was an Olympic Gold medallist and Joyce had been boxing for about two years. That was the first time I'd seen Joyce box and I've tipped him to be a player eventually ever since: that very inexperienced version of Joyce might have lost every round but he was relentless, took everything Usyk threw at him and certainly landed on Usyk. They're both old, but Joyce appears significantly fresher and, unless he's playing possum Usyk has not looked impressive thus far at heavyweight. I was shocked by how Chisora was able throw him around in their fight, how red Usyk's body was by the 3rd round (Joyce is a vicious body puncher) and David Haye did a far better job on a younger and fresher Delboy years ago. I think it's a good 50/50 fight, although obviously I'll be rooting for Slow Joe.

Like I said before the Dubois fight, just keep on bringing up and posting the WSB fight and get me some wicket odds at the bookies again Thanks guys!

Very true! Also back then he was much slimmer, he's put on a good quality 25kg+ since he faced Usyk in the WSB.

[Autobarn]

Wow, yet another truly intriguing fight on the U.K. heavyweight scene.

Need to see Usyk in with someone with upside; and great to see Joyce in with someone elite.

[KiwiRider]

This is tasty
Uysk points is the obvious choice.
Still, Joyce is bloody durable. I'd be surprised if it stopped early.
Whoever wins is going to be well deserving of a title shot for a change.