Joe Joyce tipped the scales at 263lbs (18st 11lbs) when weights were confirmed for his eagerly awaited heavyweight showdown vs Carlos Takam in London on Saturday night.
‘The Juggernaut’ had come in 5lbs lighter than that for his last outing – that career-best knockout of the highly-touted Daniel Dubois last November.
Joyce and Takam weights
He looked in great shape though and once again his sheer size should be a formidable weapon against Takam on Saturday night (live on BT Sport).
Takam (39-5-1) meanwhile was 15lbs lighter than Joyce, weighing in at 248lbs (17st 10lbs). That was just a couple of pounds heavier than for his last fight, a win over Jerry Forrest in the Las Vegas bubble last July.
Saturday’s eagerly-awaited showdown, between two men who just never stop coming forward, has much on the line for the undefeated Joyce (12-0).
WBO mandatory slot
Already aged 35 after a a long and stellar amateur career, he knows that a win over Takam will cement his position as the mandatory challenger for the WBO world heavyweight title currently held by Anthony Joshua. AJ will defend that strap – along with his IBF and WBA titles – against Oleksandr Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25.
When Joyce would get that world title shot of course would remain to be seen. If Joshua does overcome Usyk, and Tyson Fury defeats Deontay Wilder on October 9, a Fury vs Joshua unification match would appear to be more likely.
