IF ever there was a combat becoming the time period ‘crossroads,’ Joe Joyce vs. Derek Chisora would measure up completely.
The 2 Londoners have a present mixed age of 78, and there’s a robust argument that Chisora, 34-13 (23 KOs), particularly, ought to now not be competing. However all that might be forgotten when the 2 veteran heavyweights headline a Queensberry Promotions card on July 27 on the O2 Enviornment within the English capital.
The venue has been memorable for Chisora, who has fought there 9 instances within the final 9 years. Wins over Kubrat Pulev and Artur Szpilka, the latter a spectacular second-round knockout, are standouts on Chisora’s prolonged document. Final outing, the fan-favourite defeated American Gerald Washington over 10 rounds.
For Joyce, 16-2 (15 KOs), it wasn’t so way back he was being talked up as a future world heavyweight champion till he bumped into Zhilei Zhang on two events. Again-to-back losses despatched ‘The Juggernaut’ down the pecking order and his comeback win towards an overmatched Kash Ali in March did little to encourage confidence.
Defeat for Joyce on July 27 can be troublesome to return again from however his opponent is proof you’ll be able to resurrect your profession, significantly when you’re standard.
Derek Chisora after his brave shedding effort towards Tyson Fury on December 3 (Getty Pictures)
Promoter Frank Warren believes it will likely be a “cracking scrap”.
“It is a correct old fashioned heavyweight combat that appears to have been a very long time within the making,” he stated by way of press launch.
“I bear in mind it being talked about strongly even earlier than we teamed up with Joe and it has all the time struck me as a pure and apparent combat to make.
“Two high London heavies preventing it out for a spot again on the high desk guarantees to ship a cracking scrap. The winner is true again in enterprise, with no actual place to go for the loser.”
The complete undercard, together with Dennis McCann, Henry Turner, Archie Sharp, Sean Noakes and Aadam Hamed, plus extra, might be introduced within the coming weeks.
