| Official results can be found below: 10 Rnds WBO Intercontinental Light-heavyweight Title LYNDON ARTHUR – 12st 6lbs 10oz v DAVIDE FARACI – 12st 6lbs 12oz 10 Rnds WBO International Super-middleweight Title ZACHARY PARKER – 11st 13lbs 7oz v SHERZOD KHUSANOV – 11st 13lbs 12oz 10 Rnds Vacant WBO Global Super-featherweight Title ARCHIE SHARP – 9st 3lbs 4oz v DIEGO ANDRADE – 9st 3lbs 11oz 8 Rnds Bantamweights DENNIS McCANN – 8st 8lbs 4oz v JOHN CHUWA – 8st 8lbs 9oz 6 Rnds Lightweights SAM NOAKES – 9st 12lbs 9oz v LEE CONNELLY – 9st 12lbs 1oz 6 Rnds Featherweights MUHAMMAD ALI – 9st 6lbs 1oz v LEE GLOVER – 9st 5lbs 7oz 4 Rnds Light-heavyweights KAROL ITAUMA – 12st 6lbs 10oz v TIM VENTRELLA – 12st 7lbs 6oz |
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R.I.P. Sebastian Eubank
Professional Boxer Sebastian Eubank, the son of Chris Eubank Snr has passed away just days before his 30th birthday.
Sebastian’s father, Chris Eubank Snr said in a statement: “Never did I ever imagine I would write these words or experience the feeling I now have at the loss of my son. My family and I are devastated to hear of the death of Sebastian just days before what would have been his 30th birthday.
“He leaves his wife Salma, his son Raheem born just a month ago, his mother Karron Meadows, brothers Nathanael, Chris Jr, Joseph, one sister Emily and countless relatives and friends.
“Sebastian grew up in Hove in England but in the last few years made his life in Dubai where he had a wide circle of friends and was a leader in the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and of alternative therapies.
“As well as being a personal trainer and professional boxer, Sebastian was also a deep thinker who liked to challenge accepted wisdom. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and will be forever in the thoughts of friends and family.
“As a family, we now kindly ask to be given space and privacy to celebrate his life and remember the son, the brother, the husband, the friend.”
The entire Go Sports & Entertainment team send their sincere condolences to Sebastian’s family and friends – R.I.P. Sebastian.
CHAMBERLAIN PREPARING FOR COMEBACK AFTER CAREER SAVING SHOULDER SURGERY
British cruiserweight contender Isaac Chamberlainspoke exclusively with Ali Drew for Hennessy Sports’ YouTube channel about his career saving shoulder surgery as he gears up for his long awaited return to the ring.
Chamberlain has been out of action so far this year as he underwent major surgery for his right shoulder following a severe injury suffered in sparring in early November last year ahead of a title fight on a show planned for later that month and a win would have seen Chamberlain back into the world top ten rankings and world title contention.
The problem first started when the Brixton boy dislocated his shoulder in the third round of his Southern Area Cruiserweight title fight against Wadi Camacho in September 2016 and after incredibly ‘popping’ it back in, he bravely fought on and won by four rounds on the score cards in one of the fights of the year.
IC then went into a number of fights carrying the injury, including his big showdown with rival Lawrence Okolie in February 2018, unable to punch with his right hand properly and just getting through with his talent and heart.
Following his points over Luke Watkins in October 2018, Chamberlain was sidelined as he saw out a managerial contract, but was then signed by promoter Mick Hennessy and made his return in August last year with quick stoppage wins against Antony Wollery and Matt Sen just two weeks’ apart.
After succumbing to the injury in training again earlier this year, Chamberlain saw a specialist and it was advised that he have surgery to repair the shoulder to continue his career. A successful operation conducted by a world leading surgeon has since seen Chamberlain undergo intense rehabilitation and is raring to get back in the ring.
Chamberlain said, “Whilst I was preparing for a title fight that was going to get me into the top ten in the world, I was sparring and I had a massive…I basically tore my rotator cuff [right shoulder], all the muscles in my rotator cuff and obviously that was very painful, so I had to have surgery and it’s been very, very difficult but I just have to trust the process,”
“I’ve been doing my rehab for a while now, we really tried to rush it and get back on May 22nd, I’ve been seeing all my friends fighting and obviously I couldn’t. So I was kind of thinking of doing that, but Mick was like be really, really careful. I would have had to start sparring 5 weeks before that and my shoulder was nowhere near as close to being prepared for strenuous exercise, so we had to delay and wait to fight on the next show,”
“The shoulder has been healing up very, very well, it’s getting a lot stronger. There’s a lot of promise in getting the right hand back and in all of my fights before, I kind of never really used it since 2016 with the fight with Wadi Camacho. So it feels great, like a massive breath of fresh air that I can use my right hand in full confidence in my arsenal as it wasn’t really there before so I had to sacrifice and use different types of techniques. That’s why I was always knocking guys out with a body shot or a left, never a right hand I never really felt a one-two or a double jab-right hand, so I had to really change the way I fight and it worked to a certain extent, but if you really want to fight the best in the world and really be with the elites you need to not be at a disadvantage,”
“I’ve always wanted to be among the best, I always wanted to get in there and show…forgetting how my body actually feels. As boxers you’re so so tough and you’re just thinking ‘I can get through whatever, I just need to fight, I can get through whatever,’ and you forget the things that are being detrimental in the long run and that’s a result of what happened with me,”
“But it’s okay, everything is sorted out and it’s full steam ahead and I really believe it’s not going to be anymore setbacks,”
“Everything I do and everything that happens to me I find a way to use it as motivation, I always try to find a way to use it as motivation, this has happened how can I deal with the situation that happened to me.”
Further details will be released shortly about Chamberlain’s return fight date.
ARTHUR VS FARACI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
| HALL OF FAME promoter Frank Warren today hosted a press conference ahead of Queensberry’s show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday (July 10) live on BT Sport. It’s England v Italy part one ahead of Sunday’s European Championship football final in the main event. Manchester’s number one WBO ranked Light-Heavyweight ‘King’ Lyndon Arthur (18-0, 12 KOs) headlines and makes the first defence of his WBO Inter-Continental title against Italian star Davide Faraci (15-0, 7 KOs). Also on the card WBO ranked number one Super-Middleweight Zach Parker (20-0, 14 KO’s) defends his WBO International belt against Uzbek Sherzod Khusanov (22-2-1, 10 KOs). Here are a selection of quotes from the press conference. FRANK WARREN: We want a England v Italy double in football and boxing. There is a lot riding on Lyndon’s fight because he is number one contender with the WBO. He wants to cement his position so can’t afford to slip up. Joe Smith is WBO champion, but his mandatory is not due until next year. I will talk to his promoter Bob Arum about the Lyndon fight, but let’s get this out of the way. I am expecting Lyndon to win, England to win the next day and I will be barred from Bar Italia. I hadn’t seen a lot of Zach when we signed him, but he really impressed me against Vaughn Alexander. How he has gone under the radar I do not know, but he isn’t now. Sherzod is a good opponent, but Zach is going to be something special. We need to keep him busy so the public can see him. Once Canelo comes through against Plant in September there will be pressure for his mandatories and Zach will be one of them if he comes through on Saturday. LYNDON ARTHUR I will put England 1-0 up on Saturday don’t worry about that. As soon as we beat Denmark it was down to me to score the first goal. I am not nervous because I’ve been out for a bit, just excited and confident. I’m itching to get in and get the job done. I don’t want to talk about anyone else. I have this fight on Saturday and will move on. I don’t need to focus on anyone else but David Faraci. He is an undefeated fighter and brings a lot of dangers. He is tall, a good boxer and possesses a good jab, but I will test it all. I will knock him out. DAVIDE FARACI This is a great opportunity for me. I am very confident and I will do my best to win the fight. I feel absolutely confident that I will win on Saturday. He has a lot of experience, but I am not far from him in terms of that. I went to spar with Artur Beterbiev and that was an amazing experience. I learned so much. I believe I am going to win and Italy in the football on Sunday. ZACH PARKER Now I am with Frank we’re pushing on and I can’t thank him enough because he’s getting my name out there. Sherzod is obviously a very good fighter, a two-time Olympian and I am expecting a really hard fight. The plan is to go out there and win. If the knockout comes it comes. That is what I’ve trained for and what fans want to see. I am with the right promoter to get Canelo. If Canelo wants to come to Britain, Pride Park is the place to box. There is no point in talking Canelo unless I can get through this fight. Any fight I lose I go to the bottom of the pile. SHERZOD KHUSANOV: Zach is a very good boxer and I am expecting a very good fight. He is quick, young, agile and very good on his feet. That is why it will be a very exciting fight, but I have boxed fighters like him before and won. I am always ready to fight and I always bring my best to every fight. I give everything in the ring and I am here to win. Also on the bill, WBO ranked number four Super-Featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) faces Mexico’s David Andrade Chavez with the vacant WBO Global championship on the line. Prodigious bantamweight talent Dennis McCann (9-0, 5 KOs) faces Tanzanian John Chuwa (20-4, 10 KOs). 2016 Olympian Muhammad Ali (2-0) will have his third professional assignment against Lee Glover (11-4, 3 KOs), with Lightweight KO-artist Sam Noakes (5-0, 5 KOs) and Light-Heavyweight former Olympic Youth champion Karol Itauma (2-0, 1 KO) also featuring. |
Teen Sensation Hollie Towl Challenges For WIBA Youth World Championship Honours Sept 4th.
Towl versus Obisanya WIBA Youth World Championship showdown co-headlines Historic Professional Boxing Event in Brighton
Exactly one year to the day from her 2020 Professional Boxing Debut, former Five-Time, Three Division English Amateur National Champion Hollie Towl is set to compete for her first Pro Boxing Championship Accolade, when she faces Nigeria’s unbeaten 19 year old Abosede Obisanya for the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Featherweight Youth World Title at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Saturday 4th September 2021.
On September 4th Towl will officially become the United Kingdom’s youngest person to compete for professional boxing Championship honours, and should she be successful in her quest she will be in prime position to equal or even better the modern era’s current youngest World Champion Devin Haney’s incredible championship achievements.
Haney won the World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth World Championship, with a TKO victory over Mexico’s Maximino Toala in March 2017, when he was 18 years old, and then at the age of just 20 years, 11 months and six days went on to become the youngest person in modern times to win the full World title.
Co-Headlining the event, titled ‘Battles At The Beach’, is Towl’s equally talented Boyle’s XBox Gym mate 19 year old Eleanor Coulson, who faces a yet to be announced opponent for the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) Middleweight Youth World Championship.
Coulson was the reigning National Amateur Champion when she made her professional debut in September last year and, like Towl, is unbeaten in the professional ranks and is also on track to be eligible to compete for full World Championship honours before her twentieth birthday.
The stacked support card is headed by a further Championship battle, when Professional Boxing Council (PBC) International Super Flyweight Champion Nicola Hopewell goes toe to toe with Spain based Vanessa Taborda for the World Boxing League (WBL) European Super Flyweight Crown.
Unbeaten Lewis Mulberry is set to face Nicaragua’s Christian Narvaez in a four round contest, as a warm up ahead of his highly anticipated PBC British Title fight against Denny’s Kevin Traynor later in the year.
Former Amateur standouts Angelica Finch and Kirsty Biswas are set for their second pro outings, against Czech Republic’s Nicola Hubalkova and Serbia’s Marijana Dosovic respectively.
Rochester’s Jay Jackson has a tough fight on his hands when he faces Nicaragua’s Jose Aguilar in a four round Super Featherweight contest. Also facing tough South American opposition is Nottingham’s Martin Reffell, who is pitted against Frederick Castro.
Colchester’s Calvin Carruthers makes his fourth pro outing against Nottingham’s Garfield Mushore in a four round Super Featherweight contest.
Ashford, Kent’s Jack Way makes his pro debut against fellow debutant Tyler Smith in a four round Light Heavyweight contest, similarly pro debutants Connor Brazil and Callan Harley will face each other in a four round Welterweight contest.
Alvis Berzins makes his pro debut against Southend’s Dan Ballard in a four round Cruiserweight contest, also competing in the Cruiserweight division is Richard Herrick, against a yet to be announced opponent.
Towl versus Obisanya, for the WIBA Featherweight Youth World Championship and Coulson versus TBA for the WIBA Middleweight Youth World Championship co-headline the Sportanarium Events and Assassin Promotions & Management co-promoted BATTLES AT THE BEACH, in association with Visit Brighton, Scope Eyecare, KC Sofas, Hilton Brighton Metropole, Sportanarium Radio, Race Nation and Go Sports & Entertainment, that takes place at the Brighton Hilton Metropole on Saturday 4th September 2021.
Tickets available NOW at www.sportanarium.com
JOYCE v TAKAM UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED
| FRANK WARREN has delivered a spectacular undercard to support Joe Joyce’s big Heavyweight clash against Carlos Takam at SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday July 24, live on BT. Beside’s Joyce’s WBO International, WBC Silver and Commonwealth Heavyweight championships being on the line, the Hall of Fame promoter has added three further title clashes. There will be plenty of attention on Hamzah Sheeraz after former two-weight World champion Carl Frampton branded him Britain’s best prospect and added: “If he doesn’t go on and win a world title, I’ll eat my hat.” Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs). Ilford’s Sheeraz, who is highly rated in the WBO rankings for Brian Castano’s World title, will be bidding for a seventh consecutive inside-the-distance win. He won his title stopping Ryan Kelly in November 2019 and followed that up with impressive defences against Paul Kean and Guido Nicolas Pitto. Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth Welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury. They were due to meet back in March, but Jenkins who hasn’t boxed since a technical draw against Liam Taylor in November 2019 pulled out because of a perforated eardrum. Essuman last fought in September 2020 when he outpointed Cedrick Peynaud to claim the IBF European crown. In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International Super-Bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs). Streatham’s Bourke has a reputation as a damaging puncher. His title winning performance when he hammered Michael Ramabeletsa inside two rounds last December is proof. Beech isn’t an easy first defence. Beech Jnr pushed Brad Foster all the way in a British and Commonwealth title challenge 12 months ago before losing on points. Warren said: “I am delighted with the undercard. All of the boys have a chance to make statements that show they are headline acts of the future. “Hamzah is now training in California and from what I am told he is impressing everyone out there. He is a real sleeper in the Super-Welterweight division, and I am with Carl Frampton in believing he reaches the very top. “Chris Bourke is a threat to any of the domestic Super-Bantamweights and I’m sure he would like to do better than Brad Foster did against James. “I am relieved that Chris Jenkins will finally get another defence after a long layoff, and am delighted to get Ekow Essuman out again. Whoever wins this fight, be it Chris or Ekow, will be well placed to kick on and start looking at World level fights. “It is a 50-50 fight and few will tip either with great conviction.” There is also Heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), who’s opponent is TBC. Elsewhere on the card, Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut, whilst Reading Super-Featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill. ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year. Tickets are available NOW from AXS.com. Click here to buy tickets. £50 Tier £70 Floor/Tier £100 Floor £150 Floor £300 VIP Hospitality |
Pierce O’Leary faces hard-hitting Jan Marsalek on Friday’s MTK Fight Night
Pierce O’Leary is promising his best performance to date when he goes up against knockout artist Jan Marsalek on Friday’s star-studded #MTKFightNight.
The huge card takes place at the University of Bolton Stadium this week, and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.
Marsalek (8-3, 7 KOs) is known for his big power, famously dropping Kelvin Davis in the final round of their bout on the Canelo vs. Billy Joe Saunders undercard last month, whilst also holding wins over Fatih Duebues and Christian Schemrbi.
It means that O’Leary (6-0, 2 KOs) is set for the toughest test of his career so far, but the unbeaten Dublin sensation is relishing the challenge.
O’Leary said:“I’m so excited to be getting back out again. I’ve been living away from family and my nine-month-old daughter for the past three months to keep learning and developing into the pro ranks with my coach.
“I don’t know much about my opponent other then he’s got eight wins and seven of those by knockout, but for me nothing changes. I’m just going out looking to put on my best performance to date. If I do that, it will be a really tough night for him and I possibly could get the stoppage.
“It has been great to keep the momentum going during the pandemic, but camps have been a lot longer with this circumstances as it’s hard to nail down a specific date, but June 25 has been nailed down a while now so I’m buzzing to return.
“Camp has been good. I’ve been giving it 120% and been fully focused on my training, plus I’ve been getting top sparring from highly ranked contenders and working solid in my strength and conditioning too.
“Jordan Reynolds has joined our gym too and is a fantastic talent and a true character. His buzz in the gym is phenomenal and it looks like he has gelled in really well with the coach & boys. Us being on the same show is nice because it means it’s business for us two and we’ll both get the win.
“I’m really happy for fans being back too, it’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait to hear the crowd roar. Hopefully we can get some more of my fans back in soon after the pandemic eases a lot more too.
“Once I get the victory here I’m looking to step the rounds up after this one and keep ranking up the wins, while still learning the trade to the fullest.”
Elsewhere on Friday’s action-packed card, Jay Harris takes on Ricardo Sandoval in a final eliminator for the IBF flyweight title, Paul Butler meets Joseph Agbeko for the vacant WBO International bantamweight title, Hosea Burton and Liam Conroy collide in a final eliminator for the British light-heavyweight title, Gary Cully fights Viorel Simion, Jordan Reynolds faces Jan Ardon, Tyrone McCullagh goes up against Brett Fidoe, Blane Hyland squares off with Reiss Taylor, and Inder Bassi returns against Chris Adaway.
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JOE JOYCE WANTS TO BEAT DOWN TAKAM THEN ‘PUNCH UP’ JOSHUA
| JULY 24 can’t come fast enough for ‘Juggernaut’ Joe Joyce, who wants to ‘run over’ Carlos Takam before taking the chance to ‘punch up’ Anthony Joshua for the WBO title. Joyce made clear he’d fight any of the big names but did express a preference for fighting a former Team GB colleague and sparring partner – WBO, WBA and IBF Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua. Speaking to Dev Sahni at yesterday’s press conference, Joyce said: “We’ve had lots of good, competitive rounds in the ring. It’s a good fight, a 50-50 fight.” Asked what attributes he thinks he’d bring to the bout that could see him better the 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, Joe added: “My footwork, punch variety, punch durability. Also I’ve got punch power as well so I can trouble him. “Credit to Joshua though, he’s a great fighter. He’s got a good defence, has high punch output and he puts them together well. He’s got good uppercuts. He’s a strong guy, so it’ll be a tough fight.” Though, despite the respect he clearly has for AJ’s ability, he left no doubt about his prediction should the pair meet in a competitive setting: “I look forward to the opportunity to punch him up”, he joked. Joe, a 2016 Olympic Silver medalist in his own right, has forged a path of destruction through the Heavyweight division and, at just 12-0, already has notable scalps on his record including Bermane Stiverne, Bryant Jennings and, most recently, Daniel Dubois. Losing is not something Joyce understands in the professional game, with his most notable loss coming in the amateurs when, as consensus would tell you, he was robbed of a Gold medal in the Olympic final in Rio against Tony Yoka. The judging at that tournament in 2016 is now under investigation, though Joe wouldn’t be drawn on the potential for him being retroactively awarded his Gold medal. He did however pour cold water on the suggestion he could rematch Yoka in the pro’s. “He had his two-year ban” said Joe, “but he did look quite good in his last fight, he looked strong. I don’t think he’s quite earned his place to fight me yet. “He needs a few more fights yet and hopefully by then I’ll be World Champion and maybe I’ll give him a defence.” Talks of Joshua or Yoka are questions for the future and the Juggernaut’s immediate concern is a tricky scrap with Carlos Takam on July 24th. “(Takam) is coming to throw a spanner in the works but I’m not going to let that happen. It’s going to be a tough fight but I think it’s something I can overcome. It’s exciting and this is why I’m in boxing. “I’m going to deal with Takam and then go on to win a world title and become a World Champion. That’s what I’m aiming for. “First I’ve got him in my way and I’m going to have to take care of business on July 24th.” |
FURY v WILDER 3 OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED FOR JULY 24
| Chapter III: Undefeated Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury Meets Former Champion Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas For Epic Summer Showdown Saturday, July 24 at T-Mobile Arena Live on Pay-Per-View Fury vs. Wilder III Tickets Go on Sale TODAY, June 15 at 12 p.m. PT! LAS VEGAS (June 15, 2021) — Two heavyweight kings are set for a third world title showdown as undefeated WBC world champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Furyputs his title on the line against former longtime heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder Saturday, July 24 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tickets go on sale TODAY, June 15 at 12 p.m. PT and can be purchased at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com. The event is promoted by Top Rank, BombZquad Promotions, TGB Promotions and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. A Premier Boxing Champions presentation. “I’m excited to once again be fighting in Las Vegas, the home of The Gypsy King,” Fury said. “For the last 18 months, I’ve been living rent free in Wilder’s head. He got smashed to pieces in our last fight, and for some reason, he wants it again. Let’s go. The Big Dosser is getting knocked spark out.” Wilder said, “Nothing has changed. It’s still one face, one name, one champion – Deontay Wilder. I’m in the best shape of my life. July 24, I’m going to show the people why I’m still the baddest man on the planet.” Hall-Of-Fame Promoter Frank Warren said: “I’m delighted to see Tyson Fury have an opportunity to defend his prestigious WBC Heavyweight Championship of the world. Since making his comeback with Queensberry in 2018, Tyson has showed the remarkable character he has and cemented himself as the best heavyweight of his generation. “Make no mistake though, this is no easy fight. Deontay Wilder is an incredibly dangerous puncher and clearly has tremendous self-belief for invoking this rematch. “I’m sure this will be another absolute classic and I remain confident Tyson will prevail again and we can hopefully look forward to an Undisputed fight in the future.” Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs), from Manchester, England, has held the lineal heavyweight crown since dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. His comeback from substance abuse and mental health issues inspired millions, and it was the two fights against Wilder that propelled him back to the top of the heavyweight heap. Their December 2018 draw — with Fury rising off the deck in the climactic 12th round — elevated both men to the forefront of the boxing world. Fury knocked out Wilder in the seventh round of their one-sided February 2020 rematch; however, Wilder wanted an immediate third crack at his 6’9, 270-pound adversary. Wilder (42-1, 41 KOs), a 2008 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, won the heavyweight title in January 2015 and re-energized the heavyweight division, captivating fans with his electrifying power and charisma. Wilder held the WBC heavyweight world title for more than five years, notching 10 consecutive successful defenses, more than all-time greats Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier and Lennox Lewis, while earning a reputation as one of the most devastating punchers in boxing history. Nine of his 10 title defenses ended via knockout, including a pair of come-from-behind victories over Cuban star Luis Ortiz and a one-punch, first-round demolition over 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale. Wilder’s knockout ratio of more than 93 percent still stands as the highest for any heavyweight champion, past or present. |
JOE JOYCE FACES CARLOS TAKAM JULY 24 – MEDIA DAY QUOTES
| HALL OF FAME promoter Frank Warren today announced that Joe Joyce will face former World title challenger Carlos Takam at SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday July 24, live on BT. Joyce will be risking a guaranteed World title challenge when he tackles French star Takam (39-5-1, 28 KOs), who went ten rounds with Anthony Joshua in an IBF and WBA championship challenge in October 2017. Destructive Joyce (12-0, 11 KOs) is back in action for the first time since his win against Daniel Dubois last November when he captured the vacant European title and relieved Dubois of his British and Commonwealth titles. Putney’s Joyce is currently ranked number two by the WBO, but will move into their mandatory position after September’s proposed Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk clash. The Queensberry card is billed ‘A Heavy Night’ with Joyce v Takam taking place a few hours before Tyson Fury defends his WBC World Heavyweight crown against Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas. Here are a selection of quotes from today’s press conference. FRANK WARREN Joe has been very patient by waiting seven months for a fight and that isn’t down to us. The fact is negotiations went on for ages and came to nothing between Tyson Fury and AJ. We had to preserve Joe’s position at number two with the WBO because had that fight taken place, Joe would have fought Usyk. Everyone knows who Takam is and he can’t afford to slip up. Hopefully AJ gets his fight sorted with Usyk. Once he does, Joe will be installed as the mandatory challenger. Joe has got his seat at the table and has to do the business on the night. He has kept in great shape since beating Daniel and been chomping at the bit. The moment has come and now he has to do the business. I don’t think he will get his shot this year, but if he keeps winning he gets that WBO World title fight. In fairness to Joe and his team they didn’t want an easy fight. They wanted someone the public know and who will come to fight. Within the next year he will be challenging for a World title. JOE JOYCE When I thought I might fight Usyk, I just went to the gym, practised some southpaw techniques, but boxing is unpredictable and you never really know what is going to happen. I kept myself ready, stayed off the doughnuts and the beers so I’m in good shape. I was training like I was going to fight Usyk, but now I am totally focused on Takam. He’s not a southpaw, he’s orthodox and I am confident of my ability in this fight. I am within touching distance of a World title fight and let them know I’m ready to fight whoever has the belts. I have accepted the fight with Takam because he is a good name, an experienced fighter, he’s strong and always comes to win. It’s going to be a great fight. He is a short fighter in stature so will want to get in range, throw those big dangerous hooks and get under my jab. It’s going to be a difficult fight. I just need to increase my sparring and I’m ready to go. There are a few fights to be sorted out, but I can fight any of the big names for a World title. That is what I’m in the sport for. I said I was going to win all the belts, win a World title and I am right there. I am going to get to my destination. I want Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury when I fight for a World title. I always seem to be the underdog who pulls through. It’s less pressure on myself and I make sure I do the work in the gym. It will be so much better with fans back and I can pick up their energy. I’m gonna beat up Takam, won’t be able to sleep and I will watch Tyson against Deontay. Wilder has a new trainer in Malik Scott, but is he going to be able to change enough to do much different? He has that equaliser, but Fury took it and got back up in their first fight. Fury’s skills are so much better and it looks a formality for him but is still exciting because Wilder is dangerous. I will win by stoppage or KO but wont round predict a round. SAM JONES We told Frank that we didn’t want to go backwards. We wanted to go forward. Joe wanted a tough challenge. He could have had a much easier fight, but Joe wanted Takam and that is a testament to him. Joe gets written off and people say he is slow and ponderous, but every Heavyweight that has been in there with Joe will tell you he is a whole different proposition when you have a 19 stone man coming at you constantly. He is like a wasp, a big one and will not leave you alone. Takam has muscles growing from his arm pits, is always game and gives everyone tough fights. He has been at World level and in good fights. Joe has to perform and keep his position with the WBO. This is no easy fight, but we’re confident he will do a number. Tyson Fury is a genius of fighter, but Joe on his day will beat any man. Hopefully Tyson and AJ will get it on later this year and then Joe can fight the winner. |
