By: Sean Cross
“It was a really fun fight from a fan’s point of view and from a heavyweight champion myself.” World Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury said this after Joe Joyce defeated Joseph Parker in the eleventh round in Manchester, England. Fury continued: “Both guys have done really well, and fair play to Joe Joyce.” He played a very strong, competent and willing Joseph Parker. In my opinion, he put himself in the top five with that win. I was very impressed.” But how does Fury’s 15-0 Joyce feel compared to the current crop of top heavyweights?
“I think Anthony beat Joshua,” Fury said. “I think he won the middleweight (actually the heavyweight is multi-talented Oleksandr Usyk) who might have trouble with Deontay Wilder’s speed and power.” And what about Fury himself? How does Joyce feel about the towering Briton protesting the self-proclaimed king of the gypsies? “I wasn’t getting punched for 12 rounds,” Fury said. “I don’t think he could hit me if he had a handful of unhittable rice.” As for Joyce, Fury makes it clear that he finds it all too easy. “He’s a good fighter, but he is what he is,” Fury said. I’m the best in the world for a reason.
Anger may not concern himself with Joyce for a while, if at all. “I’ll fight Tyson Fury, no problem, but hopefully Usyk next,” Joyce said. Meanwhile, Fury is waiting to find out if he and Anthony Joshua will fight in December. Team Fury sends contract team Joshua way. Furthermore, Fury says Joshua has until Monday to make up his mind. It remains to be seen whether Joshua will sign the contract or if Fury will be too serious at the deadline.
As for Joyce, the undefeated skater may be thirty-seven years old, but there’s no denying he’s attracting some attention. After all, all but one of the man’s fights ended in knockouts. Additionally, Parker, being a former List of Owners himself, was seen as a real step up for the London native. Perhaps most importantly, Joyce is seen as an entertainer. “I always take shots, but I’m fun to watch, I think,” he said this weekend. It’s likely that Usyk will be followed by anger.
