So Usyk is currently the WBO Super Champion, while Joe Joyce should be next in line to get a crack at the title. Joe will probably be sidelined for a year before he gets his shot. Usyk will have to face AJ in a rematch and if things go how we expect, the next logical match after should be Usyk vs Fury. Who should Joyce face in the meantime while he plays the wait game? The next two down the rankings are Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz Jr. Both sound like nice stay busy fights and I'd probably favor Joyce to win both.
Joyce could face the winner of Chisora vs Parker II, then again Del Boy and Jersey Joe Parker could want to do a rubber match in case Chisora wins. Andy Ruiz has enough options at PBC with Martin, Kownacki and Ortiz so he is out of the picture. Sucks for Joe that he will have to wait 1+ to get his title shot, but then again there is always the possibility of Usyk or someone else holding the WBO belt to vacate.
I think Chisora will beat Parker, and then Joyce will beat Chisora. Then it will be Fury vs Joyce, because Fury will beat Usyk. Then Fury will retire. Joyce will fight Usyk for the vacant WBO belt and Usyk will win. --- THE END ---
What about somebody like Pulev. Its a step up for Joe but easily winnable and would be a good yard stick to see where he stands. Wasn't Hrgovic due a title eliminator for one of the belts? It'd be a gamble but thats an option too.
Pulev is a good call and might allow him favourable comparisons to Joshua depending on how Joyce deals with him. So hard for a top 10 HW to make relevant fights which aren't for titles, though...
Well both Joyce and Ortiz called each other out this month so hopefully that's in the works. Hrgovic would be a good fight too, Hrgovic still hasn't found anyone in the IBF's top 15 to fight an eliminator with to my knowledge so screw the IBF and just fight Joyce for his mandatory spot. Yoka would of course be a good fight too and very winnable for Yoka, Yoka's been teasing a big fight next so maybe it's Joyce but I doubt it that's too good to be true. Winner of Parker/Chisora seems like a marketable option and a winnable fight whoever wins. I'd be happy with any of these names but the pessimist in me suspects it won't be any of these names.
