After two stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang, Joe Joyce is on the comeback trail and, according to a rival’s trainer, his next step will be one Derek Chisora.
‘The Juggernaut’ was a betting favourite against Zhang when they first stepped through the ropes back in April of 2023, but a punishing, accurate and consistent left hand from the Chinese heavyweight caused an eye injury so severe the ringside physician and referee agreed to stop the fight.
It would go from bad to worse in the rematch, with ‘Big Bang’ delivering a knockout of the year contender in the third round. Joyce’s Interim Heavyweight Title and hopes of challenging for the full thing were snatched and kept, forcing the 38-year-old to lick his wounds and stage a comeback fight against Kash Ali in March of this year.
With that win under his belt, plans are now being formed for his next move. Those will reportedly not include top heavyweight Martin Bakole, whose trainer Billy Nelson took to social media to accuse Joyce of being scared and turning down two offers for the match-up in favour of fighting ‘Del Boy.’
“[As] suspected Joe Joyce has pulled out of his arranged fight with Martin Bakole to fight Chisora.
For a man who claimed [to have] crippled Martin with body shots you’d think he’d gladly fight him. When you talk s***e you need to back it up, didn’t fancy not sleeping for another 9 weeks.”
Has suspected Joe Joyce has pulled out of his arranged fight with Martin Bakole to fight Chisora
For a man who claimed crippled Martin with body shots you’d think he’d gladly fight him, when you talk shite you need to back it up, didn’t fancy not sleeping for another 9 weeks 💩— Billy Nelson (@L2Box1) May 22, 2024
In a separate post, Nelson revealed that he and his charge accepted an offer to fight Joyce ‘weeks ago,’ but that plans have now changed for ‘The Juggernaut’ to target British heavyweight stalwart Chisora, who would be returning to the ring for the 48th time after a points win over Gerald Washington last year. No information on the fight has been confirmed as of writing.
Bakole is coming off an impressive stoppage of Carlos Takam. His rivalry with Joyce has stemmed from – as with many other fighters – stories from sparring and who got the better of who.
