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As the rebuild back to the top table at heavyweight continues with far from ideal circumstances, Anthony Joshua is in must-win territory this weekend against Robert Helenius. We all know that, but it can’t be like his UD12 Jermaine Franklin victory on April 1 either – it’s got to be an emphatic, confidence-boosting knockout. Isn’t always so simple though, really? Continue reading “Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser”
Zhilei Zhang took Joe Joyce’s best punches, beckoned him forward, and repeatedly stung the 37-year-old with a steady diet of left hands in what proved a commanding victory on away soil. Joyce’s right eye was closing, the fight stopped midway through R6, and a new WBO interim heavyweight champion has been sealed as the valiant Brit experienced his first professional defeat.
Continue reading “Zhang stuns Joyce with R6 TKO, crowned new WBO interim heavyweight champion”
Joe Joyce makes the first defence of his WBO interim heavyweight title tonight at the Copper Box Arena, against a similarly seasoned Chinese contender in Zhilei Zhang who has insisted he’ll leave London this weekend with some new hardware. It’s a high-risk matchup between two Olympic silver medallists, but Joyce wouldn’t have it any other way as he pursues the division’s top guns. Continue reading “Joyce welcomes jeopardy against Zhang as his world title pursuit continues tonight”
WBO interim heavyweight champion Joe Joyce faces another seismic test in his career this Saturday, headlining on BT Sport against China’s Zhilei Zhang. Elsewhere, Mikaela Mayer returns to action while Denzel Bentley defends his British middleweight title – all featured in Wednesday’s media workout. Click for more, to watch their individual videos at the Bronx Boxing Gym. Continue reading “WATCH: Joe Joyce, Zhilei Zhang, Mikaela Mayer and more in media workout before Saturday’s show”
During his post-fight press conference, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury answered a range of questions while vowing to give fight fans the big bouts “they really crave,” insisting a unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk can happen in the first quarter of 2023, before a domestic duel against Joe Joyce later on in the year – with Wembley a mooted destination.
Continue reading “Fury feels 2023 will be his biggest career year as he assesses contrasting matchups with Usyk, Joyce”
Tyson Fury made the third defence of his WBC heavyweight title with a predictably one-sided tenth-round stoppage win against domestic rival Derek Chisora during their trilogy bout – eight years on from their second bout. Beforehand, there was a courageous comeback win for Daniel Dubois while Karol Itauma and Denys Berinchyk were among the victors on the undercard. Continue reading “Tyson Fury retains WBC title with R10 TKO in Derek Chisora trilogy, as Usyk and Joyce watch ringside”
The former WBC heavyweight champion knocked former sparring partner Robert Helenius unconscious in Saturday night’s blisteringly brief main event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn: landing clean with a short sharp counter right-hand late in the first round of his comeback bout – 53 weeks on from his frenetic trilogy bout against current titlist Tyson Fury.
Continue reading “Wilder calls out Usyk, Ruiz after sending Helenius to sleep with another blistering R1 KO”
After hinting at potentially retiring, former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is back this weekend against a familiar face in his long-time sparring partner Robert Helenius. Gone are the aggressive soundbites and violent sentiments heading into fight week but the most important question given his comeback is, how will he fare against an in-form opponent? Continue reading “Deontay Wilder talks up Robert Helenius challenge before his long-awaited comeback on Oct. 15”
Joe Joyce remains unbeaten at 15-0 with 14 KOs, the latest a thunderous one after softening up a gamely Joseph Parker effort in Manchester last weekend with overwhelming pressure and body shots. Now the WBO interim champion, again calling for Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury, the 37-year-old is finally starting to gain the respect his heavyweight work has long warranted. Continue reading “Juggernaut rolls on: Joyce’s R11 KO weekend win over Parker sets up intriguing 2023 title shot”
329 days since Oleksandr Usyk seized Anthony Joshua’s three world heavyweight titles and boxed brilliantly to suck the air out of a capacity crowd in north London, the pair will finally do battle in their rematch tonight – albeit 3,825 miles away in Saudi Arabia. Joshua has fond memories from the last time he was here, but his upcoming Ukrainian foe isn’t Andy Ruiz Jr. Continue reading “Same result or three-time champ? Usyk-Joshua 2 poses questions before tonight’s title rematch”
After protracted negotiations, politics over their broadcasting situations and undoubtedly contract complications, an eagerly-awaited WBO title eliminator between Joe Joyce and former world champion Joseph Parker is now confirmed for September 24. Seven weeks out from fight night, the ‘nowhere to run’ tagline fits this PPV bout perfectly given what’s at stake. Continue reading “Joyce-Parker set for September 24, with nowhere to run an apt tagline for upcoming PPV bout”
Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce’s near year-long absence was ended on Saturday with a fourth-round TKO win over Germany’s Christian Hammer. While it’s unclear whether former world titlist Joseph Parker faces him next in a WBO title eliminator as previously planned, the 36-year-old’s promoter Frank Warren likes the sound of a potential Deontay Wilder matchup. Continue reading “Frank Warren interested in exploring Wilder-Joyce contest, with opponent for Sept. 24 still TBC”
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