Joe Joyce vs Joseph Parker is finally set for Saturday September 24 in a heavyweight showdown with huge world title ramifications.
The pair will face off in Manchester, England with the position as mandatory challenger for the WBO world heavyweight title up for grabs. That title remember is currently held by Oleksandr Usyk ahead of his August 20 rematch vs Anthony Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Here is all we know about Joyce vs Parker with the date now finally confirmed:
Joyce vs Parker Odds
It is really tight on the betting line with Joyce the early favorite at best odds of -190 (bet $190 to win $100). Parker meanwhile can be bet at +165 (bet $100 to win $165). The Draw is a +2000 shot.
Joyce vs Parker Picks and Predictions
Our boxing expert Buck Hickman has previewed the big fight and he likes Joyce to win by Decision or Technical Decision after a brutal 12-round slugfest.
Fight Date & Start Time
The bout is set for Saturday September 24, 2022 at Manchester’s AO Arena in England. Ring walks are likely to take place between 5pm and 6pm Eastern Time in the U.S. – that’s between 2pm and 3pm on the West Coast.
How can I watch the fight on U.S. TV?
You can watch Joyce vs Parker live Saturday night on ESPN+.
What are they fighting for?
Like we said, everything is on the line here – they are one fight away from a world-title shot.
Joyce is ranked #1 by the WBO and Parker is #2 – whoever wins this one is next in line for a shot at the winner of Usyk vs Joshua 2.
Joyce vs Parker Weights
The weighin for the bout took place Friday in Manchester, England.
Joyce weighed in at 271lbs (19st 5lbs) – six pounds heavier than he had been for his last bout, that easy success vs Christian Hammer in July.
Parker meanwhile weighed 255lbs (18st 3lbs), 4 pounds heavier than his last outing – that rematch vs Dereck Chisora in late 2021. It is also a full stone heavier than for the first meeting with Chisora earlier in 2021.
Joe Joyce Record
Joyce is no spring chicken at the age of 36 – he had a long and storied amateur career which brought him Olympic silver in Rio in 2016. He lost a controversial decision to Frenchman Tony Yoka in the final.
Since then the Londoner has built a 14-0 pro resume (13 wins inside distance), topped by a brilliant win over the then unbeaten ‘next big thing’ Daniel Dubois in November 2020. That night Joyce was terrific, using his granite chin to handle everything ‘Dynamite’ threw at him, and all the while using a stiff jab to bust up Daniel’s eye.
In the end that night Dubois, no longer able to see out of a fractured eye socket, took a knee in the 10th. He had found out the hard way what a lot of opponents already knew – Joyce may not look cultured but he is almost impossible to hurt, is a heavy hitter and he will not stop coming forward. Like a boxing version of Michael Myers.
Since that night Joyce has also easily disposed of French warhorse Carlos Takam, and is now absolutely ready for the big time.
Joyce is a giant of a man, standing 6ft 6ins tall (1.98m) with a ridiculously long reach of 80ins (2.03m).
Joseph Parker Record
The 30-year-old New Zealander has a 30-2 pro record with 21 wins inside distance. He is a former WBO world heavyweight champion – having defeated Andy Ruiz (who later shocked Anthony Joshua and the world) to take the title in 2016.
Parker would eventually lose his title to Joshua in a huge unification fight in Wales in 2018, before dropping a decision to another Brit Dillian Whyte in his next bout. Those remain the only two defeats he has suffered as a pro, and he has six straight wins since.
Parker stands 6ft 4ins tall (1.93m) and has a reach of 76ins (1.93m).