AN immovable object meets perpetual motion in boxing’s heavyweight division this weekend, when ranked contenders Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker collide at the Manchester Arena.
The unbeaten Brit and the Kiwi former world champion have managed to set promotional rivalries aside in order to jostle for top spot in the line of potential suitors for Oleksandr Usyk in 2023.
After being robbed of an Olympic gold medal in Rio in 2016, Joyce hasn’t put a foot wrong as a pro. His 13 knockouts in 14 wins includes the 10th round destruction of Daniel Dubois, along with a bunch of one-time ranked contenders.
However, Parker certainly represents a step up in class for ‘The Juggernaut’, who, at 37 years of age, can ill afford any slip ups at this stage.
Parker, 30, turned pro a decade ago and went 21-0 before landing a vacant world title fight against Mexican Andy Ruiz on home turf in Auckland in 2016, winning on points.
He made two successful title defences before being outboxed in a unification against Anthony Joshua in Cardiff at the start of 2018. Four months later, he lost his comeback on points to Dillian Whyte too.
Parker has since teamed up with Tyson Fury, basing himself out of the North of England, and added six more wins to extend his record to 30-2 (21 KOs).
The six-foot-four Kiwi is active too. He did 36 competitive rounds last year, defeating countryman Junior Fa in a big fight Down Under before bagging back-to-back wins here over Derek Chisora.
Tyson Fury learnt his tricks by watching Joseph Parker. 😂
🇬🇧🇳🇿 #JoyceParker – Sep 24 – @AOArena, Manchester – @btsport box office pic.twitter.com/M7gEXCZoKH
— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) September 21, 2022
By comparison, six-foot-six Joyce has gone the 12 round distance just once, outpointing former world title contender Bryan Jennings three years ago.
Joyce is big, strong, hits like a truck and has arguably the best chin in all of boxing. But he moves like a truck too, slow and cumbersome, making him relatively easy to hit.
Parker has fast hands and good feet and is able to set a tempo many opponents have struggled to live with. Whyte was holding on for his life in their battle, saved by the bell in the final round to hold onto a points decision.
Parker also has a tremendous chin, having never been stopped amateur or pro – unlike Joyce who was stopped twice in an international singlet.
What Parker seemingly lacks is power at the top level. Ten of his last 11 fights have been 12-rounders and all but one has gone the distance. Those fights have been in a better class than those on Joyce’s record though.
The Londoner has been campaigning for a fight of this magnitude for some time but changing promoters and coaches like the weather hampered his progress.
Big knockout for Joe Joyce on the #WilderFury undercard 👊
He returns to the ring tonight against the gigantic Russian Alexander Ustinov…#JoyceUstinov | BT Sport 1 HD | 7.30pm pic.twitter.com/SlYtZRhmiq
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) May 18, 2019
Expect Joyce to come out strong in the opening round before settling down in round two. Then Parker’s speed and busy style should see him rack up some rounds.
However, the relentless pressure of the Juggernaut will eventually slow the big Kiwi down and by the second half of the fight expect Joyce to come on strong and start landing thudding shots.
Whether Parker can make it to the scorecards without picking himself up off the floor at least once first could mean the difference in him winning and losing.
However, Parker certainly represents a step up in class for ‘The Juggernaut’, who, at 37 years of age, can ill afford any slip ups at this stage.
Parker, 30, turned pro a decade ago and went 21-0 before landing a vacant world title fight against Mexican Andy Ruiz on home turf in Auckland in 2016, winning on points.
He made two successful title defences before being outboxed in a unification against Anthony Joshua in Cardiff at the start of 2018. Four months later, he lost his comeback on points to Dillian Whyte too.
Parker has since teamed up with Tyson Fury, basing himself out of the North of England, and added six more wins to extend his record to 30-2 (21 KOs).
BOOST: Fight NOT to go the distance – Was 8/5 Now 2/1
The six-foot-four Kiwi is active too. He did 36 competitive rounds last year, defeating countryman Junior Fa in a big fight Down Under before bagging back-to-back wins here over Derek Chisora.
By comparison, six-foot-six Joyce has gone the 12 round distance just once, outpointing former world title contender Bryan Jennings three years ago.
Joyce is big, strong, hits like a truck and has arguably the best chin in all of boxing. But he moves like a truck too, slow and cumbersome, making him relatively easy to hit.
Parker has fast hands and good feet and is able to set a tempo many opponents have struggled to live with. Whyte was holding on for his life in their battle, saved by the bell in the final round to hold onto a points decision.
Parker also has a tremendous chin, having never been stopped amateur or pro – unlike Joyce who was stopped twice in an international singlet.
What Parker seemingly lacks is power at the top level. Ten of his last 11 fights have been 12-rounders and all but one has gone the distance. Those fights have been in a better class than those on Joyce’s record though.
The Londoner has been campaigning for a fight of this magnitude for some time but changing promoters and coaches like the weather hampered his progress.
Expect Joyce to come out strong in the opening round before settling down in round two. Then Parker’s speed and busy style should see him rack up some rounds.
However, the relentless pressure of the Juggernaut will eventually slow the big Kiwi down and by the second half of the fight expect Joyce to come on strong and start landing thudding shots.
Whether Parker can make it to the scorecards without picking himself up off the floor at least once first could mean the difference in him winning and losing.
