Joe Joyce has caught the eye of renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas. The former trainer and current commentator recently shared his thoughts on the British heavyweight, expressing regret at not having the chance to work with him earlier in his career.
Atlas, known for his no-nonsense coaching style and for developing the technical skills and mental toughness of fighters like Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, and Timothy Bradley, made the revelation during an interview with Froch on Fighting.
"I like to train guys that I think had the mental constitution, the physicality, but they needed help to get over the hump, to get from point A to point B."
When asked about a current fighter he would have liked to train, Atlas didn't hesitate to name Joyce. He pointed out the Brit's heavy hands, good chin, and strong mentality as attributes that attracted him.
"Joe Joyce... I feel he never learned the real art of the sport. I'd like to have worked with him earlier before he got used up. It's too late now, he's past himself, the ship has sailed."
Joyce, a former Olympic silver medalist, has had a roller-coaster career in the professional ranks. He notched impressive wins against Daniel Dubois, Carlos Takam, and Joseph Parker. However, his progress hit a snag when Zhilei Zhang stopped him early in back-to-back fights.
The Juggernaut bounced back with a win over Kash Ali but suffered another setback in July 2024, losing to Derek Chisora. Joyce will look to get back on track on April 5 in Manchester. He was originally set to face Dillian Whyte, but after Whyte pulled out with a finger injury, Filip Hrgovic stepped in as the new opponent.
Atlas's comments suggest that while Joyce had the raw materials to be a top heavyweight, he lacked the technical refinement that could have taken him to the next level. The trainer's regret at not having worked with Joyce earlier in his career highlights the importance of proper development in a boxer's formative years.
As Joyce prepares for his upcoming bout, fans and pundits will be watching closely to see if he can overcome his recent setbacks and fulfill the potential that Atlas saw in him.
