Joe Joyce should look good on Saturday night time towards Derek Chisora to place himself again within the combine with the division’s prime heavyweights.
For Joyce, it’s a lose-lose combat towards the 40-year-old Chisora, who many followers really feel shouldn’t be permitted to combat as a result of his quite a few defeats in his final six fights. He’s misplaced 4 fights since 2020, and he seems to be properly previous his prime. Sadly, he’s nonetheless given prime headliner slots, which shouldn’t be that manner.
Joyce (16-2, 15 KOs) and Chisora (34-13, 23 KOs) will combat in a twelve-round bout on July twenty seventh. The combat will likely be proven in an occasion on ESPN+ at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 PT.
There’s a variety of curiosity from British followers within the Joyce-Chisora combat however not a lot from the U.S boxing public. Each guys aren’t thought-about related, and neither goes anyplace. The winner of the combat may have little or no likelihood of getting a world title shot.
Joyce’s Inside Struggles
“Joe has been working with a sports activities psychologist and I just like the sound of that as a result of he does have to get a little bit of spite in his system for his opponents,” mentioned analyst Gareth A. Davies to Boxing King Media about Joe Joyce.
Joyce has appeared irritable through the build-up to his combat with Chisora, and it looks as if he’s not a cheerful camper for this combat. If Joyce is seeing a sports activities psychologist to get slightly extra hearth in him, that may clarify his habits. Nonetheless, I don’t know if that’s the reply to his issues.
“I do see Joe as the favourite. I don’t see why individuals assume Derek goes to beat him. I don’t know if he needs to be combating, however that’s not my place to say that,” mentioned Gareth about Chisora. Derek had an excellent combat with Usyk for at the very least six rounds.
“Factors or late stoppage, however I lean in direction of late stoppage,” mentioned Gareth, describing how he sees Joyce defeating Chisora. “He’s [Joyce] not going to alter his type at 38 years of age. He’s bought to dam and be evasive and get his timing proper towards Derek, who’s a really tough opponent if he’s within the temper.”
Chisora can win by knockout, particularly if Joyce’s chin isn’t the identical after his two knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang. That’s what a variety of boxing followers imagine. Joyce didn’t get knocked out in his final combat towards Kash Ali, however he regarded cautious, and nowhere close to the identical fighter he’d been earlier than his two defeats towards Zhang.
A Lose-Lose Scenario for Joyce
“It’s an upset,” mentioned Gareth when requested if it’s an upset if Chisora wins. “It’s a lose-lose for Joyce, this combat. I count on him to win handily. I believe he’ll get to Derek ultimately, however Joe is 39 in September. Derek is already 40.”
It’s a foul look that Joyce is being given this stage of an opponent after his confidence-builder match towards Kash. It was comprehensible for Joyce to be given one simple combat, however not two in a row towards the identical kind of fighter. The sort of opponent gained’t assist Joyce prepare for the higher fighters within the division that he hopes to face in 2025.
“I do know individuals groaned when this combat was first introduced, however there’s jeopardy right here for Joe Joyce. If he needs to get again within the huge time. There’s lots on the road for Joe Joyce and the optics need to look good for him as a result of he labored towards Kash Ali after his two losses to Zhilei Zhang,” mentioned Gareth.
If Joyce doesn’t look good towards Chisora, it might be dangerous for his psychological well being and his recognition. He must obliterate Chisora to be given any credit score from followers.
