Tyson Fury insists Joe Joyce wouldn’t lay a glove on him if the British heavyweights were ever to fight
(Picture: Getty Images/PA)Tyson Fury believes Joe Joyce would not stand a chance in a fight against him, but would prove too much for both Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
‘The Juggernaut’ claimed the WBO’s interim heavyweight title with an emphatic 11th-round knockout of Joseph Parker following an enthralling battle in Manchester on Saturday night, becoming a mandatory challenger to unified champion Usyk.
Joyce immediately called out the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO king after dispatching Parker, while promoter Frank Warren said he would “move heaven and earth” to ensure that the bout does happen.
However, Usyk does not appear keen on such defences after retaining his titles by beating Joshua for the second time in a rematch in Saudi Arabia last month, laying out a three-fight retirement plan this week that featured an undisputed showdown with WBC champion Fury, a ‘freak’ bout with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and a farewell contest at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.
In addition to Usyk, Joyce announcing himself as a potential true heavyweight contender at 37 will also lead to speculation and clamour for other huge showdowns, not least high-profile domestic dust-ups with the likes of Fury and Joshua.
Tweeting after his win, Joyce said: “I have proven I’m up there with the best in the world and now I’m on the way to some huge fights! Bring on Usyk or Fury if he wants a war.”
I really enjoyed that, Great Fight!
— Joe Joyce (@JoeJoyceBoxing) September 25, 2022
Huge respect to @joeboxerparker!
I have proven I’m up there with the best in the world and now I’m on the way to some huge fights!
Bring on Usyk or Fury if he wants a war The Juggernaut! #THEJUGGERNAUT 👊🏾 pic.twitter.com/5falXeukr3
And while Fury scoffed at the idea that Joyce could seriously challenge him, he does believe he could topple both Joshua and Usyk without too much trouble.
“Joe Joyce is a force to be reckoned with,” he told BT Sport. “Anyone who takes him lightly will be in for a rude awakening. I think he would walk though AJ and he’s too big for Usyk. Never in a million years [could he beat me].”
In a separate interview at the AO Arena, Fury - who also engaged in a heated confrontation with old rival Derek Chisora at ringside as well as issuing another public ultimatum to Joshua - gave a feistier response when asked about a possible meeting with Joyce.
“He wouldn’t land one punch on me in 12 rounds,” he said. “I don’t think he could hit me if he had a f*****g handful of rice.
“He’s a big man, but I’m bigger. He’s heavy, but I’m heavier. That’s it. He’s a good fighter, but it is what it is. I’m the best in the world for a reason.”
