Joyce may be stepping in to fight Gassiev

It pays to be a big name sometimes

 

seen worse though, parker cojanu springs to mind.

 

I don't want to get too ahead of myself here (but I'm going to do it anyway). Just imagine if Joyce is the replacement, and wins, and becomes a world champion. And then imagine if you'd been told 2 weeks prior, when Usyk still had the belts, that in 2 weeks time, Joe Joyce will be world champion.

And hey, let's get even crazier. Say Dubois beats Wardley again, and then Joyce ends up fighting Dubois. Dubois has PTSD flashbacks and loses again. Joe Joyce becomes unified champion at 41.

I know, I know. But this is why we love boxing. Because this kinda stuff can actually happen. But no, in all seriousness, Joyce and Dubois's careers have gone in completely different directions since then, and it would probably be a totally different fight, with a different result. But still.

 

Such a top guy too. Slightly socially awkward, but unlike Dubois, extremely lovable. The likes of Usyk and Parker are always put on the P4P nicest boxers list but this guy doesn't get enough mentions.

 

I hope this materialises; Joyce is already in for a stiff test against Suslenkov, but if the opportunity arises he may as well substitute that for a stiff test against Gassiev with a world title on the line. Joyce is one of boxing's good guys and it would put a big smile on my face to see him hold a strap, albeit I would have no pleasure with it being at Gassiev's expense, who is a gent too.

 

Lol Gassiev will blast Joyce out of there in a probably more brutal fashion than Zhang did. This fight will definitely showcase Murat’s power.

 

In 2026 Gassiev v Yoka/Joyce isn't a world title worthy matchup for a vacant world title. They will have a combined 5 or 6 losses. Joyce is 1-4 in his last 5. In a era where elite fighters don't fight each other and everyone has a pretty record that's a problem. Wilder unironically deserves a title shot more than Yoka and Joyce. This is a regional level matchup.

People still poo poo Wallin being considered top 5 but Wallin beat this guy to get into the top 5 and Gassiev hasn't beaten anyone better than Wallin. Gassiev can justify a title shot but he should not be the "A side" in a title fight. If he was a proven champ already this would be a weak title defense but to establish himself as an alternative to Kabayel, Usyk, Dubois and Sanchez/Itauma it is totally unacceptable.

I did not recognize the regular title and I will not recognize this title. Excluding the regular title(and certain exotic lineal matchups the ABC's didn't choose) this will be the weakest world title fight at HW since Wilder v Stiverne II. Which was the conclusion of 12 years of patently unworthy WBC matchups at HW. Every interim title fight has been stronger than Gassiev v Yoka/Joyce. I harshly criticized the WBA making Wardley v Huni for the WBA interim title but at least they were both undefeated regional belt holders. It appears the WBA might be entering their version of the aformentioned WBC era.

 

If he wins, you'd have potentially three British heavyweight champions, provided that Moses wins a potential encounter with Frank Sanchez ~

 

Yep. Joyce has had his Chin shattered and there’s no coming back from that.

 

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Guess even Joyce was too dangerous for gassiev

 

Where was that power against Wallin?

 

Literally who? What a weak ass title defense if either of those are picked

 

A) He was re-injured
B) Look at his weight. He came in very underweight.