Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora will face-off in a heavyweight showdown at the 02 Arena on July 27.
It is an all-British bout that has been mooted for a number of years, and it takes place this summer at a stage in both fighters’ careers when retirement questions are growing.
Joyce, 39, suffered two bruising defeats to Zhilei Zhang last year and returned to action in March with a low-key win over Kash Ali, while Chisora has fought just once in 18 months.
The 40-year-old, with a 34-13 record, beat Gerald Washington on points last August, having been stopped by Tyson Fury when the pair fought for the third time in December 2022.
At a press conference on Wednesday to announce his fight with Joyce, Chisora revealed he intends to have three more fights and then hang up his gloves. After this final bout in London, he wants a bout in Manchester before bringing down the curtain on his career in Zimbabwe.
Derek Chisora vows to deliver the stoppage. The Juggernaut begs to differ 👀#JoyceChisora | 27.07.24 | Tickets general sale on Friday, https://t.co/xJu1H3IRIT pic.twitter.com/QG5AAy9MQ5
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) May 22, 2024
“I know Joe is going to come [forward], I’m going to come, so it’s going to be a very exciting fight,” Chisora said.
“I’m excited. I’ve got so much to show, it’s a perfect fight for me and it’s a perfect fight for him. It’s the first time he’s fought at the 02 Arena - this is my home.”
He added: “Joe is not going to win. He can train as much as he wants, but when it comes to the real grind of it, I’m more vicious than him, I’m more crazy than him. I fear no man. There’s no feeling each other out in the first round - I’m going in.”
Joyce has repeatedly insisted he still has ambitions to reach the top table of the heavyweight division, and promoter Frank Warren suggested that the winner is in line for a big fight later this year.
While Chisora did not appear particularly concerned about his long-term future in the sport, it is a must-win bout for Joyce.
“We’re going to crash in the middle, there’s going to be sparks and flames,” he vowed.
