Joe Joyce called Usyks punches slaps as he | Boxing News
Joe Joyce as soon as likened Oleksandr Usyk’s punches to “slaps” as he named the toughest puncher he’d confronted. The British heavyweight returns to the ring on Saturday as he takes on Croatian Filip Hrgovic in a make-or-break conflict in Manchester.
Joyce, 39, is aware of a fourth skilled defeat would imply the tip of his top-level boxing profession. The Juggernaut suffered back-to-back losses to Chinese giant Zhilei Zhang earlier than a shock defeat to Derek Chisora. Joyce has been within the ring with a host of fashionable greats, whether or not within the professional ranks, the amateurs or sparring. Before shifting into the paid ranks, he fought present three-belt world champion Usyk over 5 rounds.
While impressed by the wily Ukrainian as he suffered a factors defeat at Bethnal Green’s York Hall, Joyce insists he wasn’t overwhelmed by his energy.
Speaking to Queensberry Promotions back in 2023, he defined: “I remember when we fought, it was like stinging power – it wasn’t thudding.
“I could feel the punches. You know like slaps, they’re more stinging? Faster and more stinging. But I guess now he’s put on more size, so they’ll be more thudding and he’s knocked out people.”
In the identical interview, Joyce named the toughest puncher he had confronted, and it was the present holder of the opposite world heavyweight belt Daniel Dubois. Joyce secured a shock win over his British rival in November 2020.
“They’ve all kind of hit me the same. I remember Dubois, though,” recalled Joyce earlier than his fights in opposition to Zhang and Chisora. “My face after the fight was like ‘ahh’. His punches… even though he didn’t have the time to set his feet and really settle into his shots. He’s got just raw, thudding, natural power.
“He eats whole chickens and then goes to bed! That’s what he did on Team GB, so he’s probably doing similar now.”
Usyk and Dubois may struggle for a second time in a potential heavyweight unification showdown. For Joyce to pressure his manner back into big-fight competition, he should first deal with Hrgovic, and impress doing so.
“I want to get to the top of the mountain and this time get the gold at the end of the rainbow,” mentioned Joyce forward of the struggle. “It’s never too late. You’re only as good as your last win and you can quickly move back to the top and that’s what I plan to do.”
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