Joe Joyce thinks Tyson Fury much more attractive as a contender for the world title than Oleksandr Usyk. The 37-year-old Briton said that if he himself chose an opponent to fight for the world title, he would prefer to meet his compatriot Fury, and not Usyk. Fury and Usyk, most likely, will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion in the Middle East in March.
Joyce, who faces China's Zhang Zhilei in April, is the mandatory challenger for the WBO Usyk belt. But if Fury eventually wins and becomes the undisputed champion of the division, Joyce has no doubt that this is the fight he would like to participate in. Moreover, both Fury and Joyce are under contract with the same Queensberry promoter.
“It all depends on who wins, Usyk or Fury. Obviously, if Fury wins - and he probably will, although I don't write off Usyk because he's a tough and experienced fighter and will give Fury some trouble, then yes, ideally I would like to fight Fury. It would be a great fight. It would be crazy in the ring,” said Joyce, who last fought in September, stopping former world champion Joseph Parker in the 11th round.
Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) has already met Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) in the amateur ring. For example, Usyk confidently outplayed Joyce in 2013 in the World Series of Boxing. But "Juggernaut" claims that he does not think that Usyk is eager to fight him in the near future.
“I know that Usyk doesn’t want to fight me either, saying something like I’m like a tank in the ring,” Joyce said. “We just need to see what's going on in heavyweight. I'm just getting ready for a fight in April, and in the summer I'll be waiting for a big fight."
