By: Sean Crose
“Honestly, from the point of view of the fans and myself as a heavyweight champion, it was a very, very interesting fight.” So WBC and world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said so after Joe Joyce knocked out Joseph Parker in the eleventh round in Manchester, England on Saturday. “You’ve both done a great job,” Fury continued, “and let’s play fair with Joe Joyce. He played a very strong, strong, fit and ready match for Joseph Parker. He put himself in the top five with that win in my opinion. I was very impressed. But how does Fury feel Joyce 15-0 will go up against the current top heavyweights?
Fury said: “I think he beat Anthony Joshua. “I think he beat the middleweight (actually Oleksandr Usyk), he might have a problem with Deontay Wilder’s speed and power.” What about Fury himself? How does the towering Brit feel Joyce will go up against the man who calls himself the Gypsy King? “He’s not going to land a single punch on me for 12 rounds,” Fury said. “I don’t think he can hit me if he has a damn rice ball.” Fury made it clear that he finds things pretty simple when it comes to Joyce. “He’s a good fighter,” Fury said, “but that’s what it is. I’m the best in the world for a reason. ”
Fury might not have to bother with Joyce for a while, if at all. “I’m going to fight Tyson Fury, that’s okay,” Joyce said, “but hopefully next is Usyk.” Meanwhile, Fury is waiting to find out if he and Anthony Joshua are set to hit the field in December. Team Fury submitted the contract the way of Team Joshua. Furthermore, Fury said Joshua must decide by Monday. Whether Joshua will actually sign the contract, or whether Fury is serious about the deadline, remains to be seen.
As for Joyce, the undefeated slugger may be thirty-seven years old, but there’s no denying he’s getting her attention. After all, all but one of the men’s matches ended in a knockout. In addition, Parker, himself a former player, is considered a real step forward for the London-born player. Perhaps most importantly, Joyce is seen as an entertainer. “I’m always taking pictures, but I guess I’m excited to see,” he said this weekend. Fury is definitely keeping an eye on him, most likely Usyk.
