Joe Joyce is set to make his return to the boxing ring on March 1st at the Bournemouth International Centre. The heavyweight fighter aims to get his career back on track after a tough run of recent losses.
Joyce's last fight in July ended in a unanimous decision loss to Derek Chisora. The bout left his career in a difficult spot as he got dropped during the match. Before that, Joyce suffered two consecutive defeats against Zhilei Zhang. In September 2023, Zhang knocked him down and stopped him in the third round. This was an immediate rematch following their April 2023 fight, where Joyce lost for the first time as a pro when the doctor called off the bout in the sixth round.
These losses came as a shock to many, as Joyce had previously lined himself up for a world heavyweight title shot with notable stoppage wins over Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker.
Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions will host the event. The main event will see Ryan Garner face Salvador Jiminez for the European super-featherweight title. Queensberry announced Joyce's return on Twitter on January 7, 2025.
Promoter Frank Warren spoke about Joyce's comeback in a recent interview. He emphasized the seriousness of Joyce's situation:
"Can he turn it around? We'll give him the opportunity to see if he can. If he does I'll be the most delighted person about that, but let's see if he can. Every fight he's in now defines what his future is in boxing."
At 39 years old, Joyce, known as "The Juggernaut," finds his career at a crossroads. Some fans called for his retirement after the Zhang defeats. Many believe another loss could spell the end of his boxing career.
In an interesting twist, Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, both previously defeated by Joyce, will face off for the IBF heavyweight title in February. The outcome of that fight could impact Joyce's future prospects in the division.
Joyce's comeback fight on March 1st will be crucial. It will show if he can bounce back from his recent setbacks and reignite his heavyweight ambitions.
