Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce returns to action on July 2 as he warms up for a massive potential showdown with Joseph Parker in September.
A rumble between unbeaten British star Joyce and former WBO heavyweight champion Parker would be a big box office attraction. But first Joyce returns after almost a year off against an as yet unnamed opponent.
Joyce returns on Wembley July 2 card
Joyce’s return will play out on a Queensberry card at the OVO Arena in Wembley which also features Jason Cunningham vs Zolani Tete.
It’s been a frustrating year for Joe, who first had to wait as WBO mandatory challenger to see if he would get a title showdown, and since then he has been hampered by injury.
Now though Joyce (13-0 with 12 wins inside distance) is ready to go back to work, and showcase the bulldozing style which has struck fear into so many heavyweights.
Last time out he stopped veteran French warhorse Carlos Takam inside six rounds in London last July, and before that he had produced a career-best performance to stop the unbeaten Daniel Dubois in his tracks in a much-hyped domestic blockbuster.
Joyce a man in a hurry
Those wins represented a notable step up in class for Joe, who at the age of 36 (he turns 37 in September) is a man in a hurry to make it to the very top level.
A showdown with the talented and difficult Parker (30-2) would represent another step up for Joyce, to true world level against a man still very much at the peak of his powers.
First though he must come through that July 2 test at Wembley, with much bigger fish to fry on the horizon later in 2022.
Joyce return live on BT Sport
The July 2 show will air live on BT Sport and timings will be announced closer to fight night.
