BoxRec

http://sport.bt.com/boxing/joe-joyce-to ... 4359103951

Poster here

Joe Joyce will encounter a giant in the shape of former world title challenger Alexander Ustinov when he returns to the ring on May 18 at the Lamex Stadium live on BT Sport.

Subject to VISA, the 6ft 7.5″ Russian will provide a tall order for the 8-0 Joyce, who is having his first fight following his promotional alignment with allegedly at the home of Stevenage FC as chief support to Billy Joe Saunders challenging for the vacant WBO Interim world super middleweight title against Shefat Isufi.

Ustinov, 34-3 (25 KOs) has longed been ranked highly amongst the heavyweight contenders and was unbeaten over the first seven years of his professional career until challenging for the European title and the vacant IBF world title against Kubrat Pulev in September 2012.

He remained unbeaten during his next seven fights, during which time he won the WBA International belt, before falling to a points defeat in a bid to win the vacant WBA regular world title against Manuel Charr in November 2017.

The Olympic silver medallist is also mandatory for British, European and WBA regular world title challenges following a successful start to his professional career that has seen him register eight straight victories via KO.

“I could have waited until the big fight night on July 13th, but I wanted to keep busy. I didn’t want a journeyman, so we chose a 6 foot 8 inch giant and former world heavyweight title challenger Alexander Ustinov who’s only lost 3 times. He is big, awkward and he can punch. My aim is to take him out in spectacular fashion and put on a great show for the fans at the Lamex stadium."

Disappointing matchup. Joyce will crush Ustinov.

oogiebe wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 09:37 Disappointing matchup. Joyce will crush Ustinov.

I like how they put 'subject to visa'

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 09:38 I like how they put 'subject to visa'

LOL! I hadn't caught that!

Joyce really should have been fighting Charr next as isn't he mandatory for that title?

Ustinov looked pretty finished vs Hunter but is game, a proper fighter if you ask me.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 09:38 I like how they put 'subject to visa'

Here we go again. Frank's giving us clues now

Just seen this on Instagram. So many divs in the comments. Like Joyce said, he could sit it out and wait until Wazza’s heavyweight summer show but he’s staying busy. That’s commendable and Ustinov is massive if nothing else. Michael Hunter was in the running for a big payday after beating him I don’t really see how it’s a bad thing.

Is this the actual main event with BJS as chief support? Imagine having a world title and being talked about in the same sentence as Canelo and Triple G one year and then fighting on the undercard of Joyce-Ustinov the next.

When Joyce turns pro "he's 30 odd we're gonna move him quickly. World title shot blah blah blah"

8 fights in "Joyce is fighting a middle-aged, washed up, never that good Russian stopped by a Cruiserweight in his last fight. And we're avoiding the real live HW's"

Terrible fight

ustinov got a bad beating vs hunter, that really shouldve been stopped sooner

danconnollyeire wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 11:32 When Joyce turns pro "he's 30 odd we're gonna move him quickly. World title shot blah blah blah"

8 fights in "Joyce is fighting a middle-aged, washed up, never that good Russian stopped by a Cruiserweight in his last fight. And we're avoiding the real live HW's"

Terrible fight

It’s not a very good fight but i’ll reserve judgement on Joyce’s career path when we see his opponent in July. If he’s not fighting for the WBA regular, the European, or Dubois, then I’ll happily moan away. This is just to give him another outing this year. I’m not saying any of us have to watch it. It’s shite. I cannot argue with you on that one. It’s just record building, which all fighters do.

I think Joe should legally change his name to just "Juggernaut"!

clopixolacuphase wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 11:22 Is this the actual main event with BJS as chief support? Imagine having a world title and being talked about in the same sentence as Canelo and Triple G one year and then fighting on the undercard of Joyce-Ustinov the next.

Na mate. BJS is main event. It's his homecoming. Or near-homecoming.

stujones wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 09:44 Joyce really should have been fighting Charr next as isn't he mandatory for that title?

Ustinov looked pretty finished vs Hunter but is game, a proper fighter if you ask me.

Yeh. Hunter was all over him. Joyce should look to finish it quicker.

joshj909 wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 10:47 Here we go again. Frank's giving us clues now

Ustinov fought in Bolton few years ago. A repeat visa shouldnt be an issue. But FW is warning us.

Ustinov has to be about 50 now right?!

Not exactly a riveting matchup

Nondescript wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 12:22 Ustinov has to be about 50 now right?!

Not exactly a riveting matchup

oogiebe wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 12:33

If Joyce fights someone decent later in the year though, I suppose it's not to bad. It's just that with the sort of shit that FW tends to put on these days, I have my doubts.

Nondescript wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 12:39 If Joyce fights someone decent later in the year though, I suppose it's not to bad. It's just that with the sort of poo that FW tends to put on these days, I have my doubts.

It seems once a HW gets mentioned as a title challenger, they retreat to fights like this waiting for their shot.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 12:19 Na mate. BJS is main event. It's his homecoming. Or near-homecoming.

Right. Well then this makes plenty of sense, then. Nothing to see here.

oogiebe wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 12:49 It seems once a HW gets mentioned as a title challenger, they retreat to fights like this waiting for their shot.

Good old boxing ay

Joyce was quoted as saying it's stay busy fight in anticipation of a 'big' July bout.

oogiebe wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 18:25 Joyce was quoted as saying it's stay busy fight in anticipation of a 'big' July bout.

Yup. He did. He said why sit around and wait til July when he can get a few rounds in. And why not. It’s good. We should be pleased he’s keeping busy and active. He’s still a pro novice. And at his age, staying this busy is rare, but it’s not like his fights have been going the distance. He did 1 round in December after doing 5 in September. Then did another 6 in Feb just 2 months later. It’s all good.

Might take him a few rounds before he stops Ustinov.

Btw. Ustinov is just a big softie. Charr managed to drop him too. He’s probably gonna weigh his usual 300lbs.

Can see FW using him again maybe for Dubois down the line. Kinda like how Slowpin is used.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 19:14 Yup. He did. He said why sit around and wait til July when he can get a few rounds in. And why not. It’s good. We should be pleased he’s keeping busy and active. He’s still a pro novice. And at his age, staying this busy is rare, but it’s not like his fights have been going the distance. He did 1 round in December after doing 5 in September. Then did another 6 in Feb just 2 months later. It’s all good.

Might take him a few rounds before he stops Ustinov.

Btw. Ustinov is just a big softie. Charr managed to drop him too. He’s probably gonna weigh his usual 300lbs.

Can see FW using him again maybe for Dubois down the line. Kinda like how Slowpin is used.

So long as he continues being busy and he steps up in July I'm fine with it.

I'm going to record the fight and play it back at 2x speed.

oogiebe wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 18:25 Joyce was quoted as saying it's stay busy fight in anticipation of a 'big' July bout.

Can see him fighting Gorman in July.

oogiebe wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 19:18 So long as he continues being busy and he steps up in July I'm fine with it.

I'm going to record the fight and play it back at 2x speed.