Joe Joyce believes it could be a blessing in disguise for Anthony Joshua to swerve a world-title clash with Tyson Fury on December 3 in Cardiff. The Gypsy King is insistent he has now moved on from the ‘Battle of Britain’ as he prepares to trade leather with Manuel Charr instead.
Joyce now finds himself right in the mix of some potentially massive fights following his 11th-round knockout victory over Joseph Parker.
The Juggernaut has already been backed to face both Fury and Joshua plus old opponent Oleksandr Usyk, who beat him in the World Series of Boxing.
For now, Joyce is happy to relax and see what options arrive on the table but as a top heavyweight contender, he believes Joshua is better off avoiding the Fury fight for the time being.
He told The Mail on Joshua: “I think he should take some easier fights, get his confidence back and then come back and challenge for the title.
“Fury’s kind of rushing him into the fight and stuff, meanwhile he’s got loads of other options like Mahmoud Charr and my name’s also been mentioned.
“But it’s exciting times for heavyweight boxing and I’m in a great place after my victory on Saturday.”
Joyce hasn’t always talked about Joshua with such respect given there is history between the British pair.
The duo went up against one another at the English National Championship London Area Preliminaries in 2011 when Joshua reigned supreme via first-round stoppage.
Joshua would then progress to win gold at the 2012 Olympics in London for Team GB.
In an exclusive interview with Express Sport, Joyce recently took issue with his opposite number for gloating about his win at the ABA’s.
Joyce said: “I’ve seen a video of him gloating about beating me in the London finals in the ABA’s. He’s in the gym with loads of his mates and I can just see what kind of a guy he is.
“After that [Oleksandr] Usyk speech, his image is shattered.
“He’s always had a corporate image and has been told what to say but it wasn’t a true reflection of himself and then when you do that it’s hard to keep up the act and that’s when things come out and the unexpected for that character that someone’s portrayed for so long.
“It was the real AJ at breaking point. He had been very disciplined the whole time and it’s all built up then it came out on that night.”
Joshua has since sparred with Joyce, who at his current trajectory could be in line to rematch his rival.
Eddie Hearn remains adamant Matchroom Boxing are continuing to expire the Fury fight but other avenues could now emerge with the Gypsy King expected to fight Charr instead.
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