July 24th 2024.
Joe Joyce is not one to shy away from his dreams of becoming a world champion in the world of heavyweight boxing. However, he can't help but feel like his old rival, Daniel Dubois, has had some good fortune in securing a highly anticipated world title showdown with Anthony Joshua at Wembley. Despite this, Joyce remains focused on his own journey towards the top of the heavyweight division.
It wasn't too long ago that Joyce was on the brink of a world title shot, but two tough losses to Zhilei Zhang quickly changed his trajectory. He was forced to take a step back and reassess his path to the top. After a lowkey victory against Kash Ali in March, Joyce is now gearing up to face the battle-hardened Derek Chisora in a highly anticipated domestic clash in London this Saturday.
A win against Chisora will not only revive Joyce's prospects but could also potentially send his opponent into retirement. However, while Joyce will be watching from the sidelines as Dubois competes against Joshua in September, he can't help but feel a tinge of frustration. After all, he has already defeated Dubois in their 2020 bout, outboxing and eventually forcing his younger opponent to quit in the 10th round.
Dubois, on the other hand, has been on a roll in the last six months, securing a last-gasp knockout against Jarrell Miller in December and becoming the first person to defeat Filip Hrgovic in June. With that win, Dubois became the 'interim' IBF champion and was soon upgraded to a full world champion, setting the stage for a titanic showdown against Joshua.
For Joyce, his losses to Zhang came at a heavy cost. He fell off the radar just as Saudi Arabia began to take over the heavyweight boxing scene, offering riches and opportunities to everyone around him. What's most frustrating for Joyce is the fact that he was already a step ahead of Dubois, having defeated him in their previous bout. But unfortunately, luck was not on his side when he needed it the most.
Despite the setbacks, Joyce remains impressed by Dubois' rise in the past four years. However, he believes that his opponent has been lucky and has received the support needed to secure a world title shot. Unlike Joyce, who was stripped of his WBA gold champion status and was unable to move up in the rankings despite being the WBO interim champion, Dubois was immediately elevated to full champion status. Joyce also acknowledges that Joshua has improved significantly in the past year, making the showdown between him and Dubois all the more exciting.
Joyce knows that a win this weekend will restore his status as a world title contender. But standing in his way is the tough and experienced Chisora, who, at 40 years old and with 47 fights under his belt, is not to be underestimated. Chisora has only won two of his last six fights and was recently dismantled by Tyson Fury in December 2022. Although he bounced back with a win against Gerald Washington last August, it was not enough to quiet the calls for his retirement. Joyce knows all too well the pressure and criticism that come with losses, having faced a similar backlash after his defeats to Zhang. But he also understands that ultimately, the decision to retire is a personal one and should be left to each individual.
At 38 years old, Joyce knows that he doesn't have much time left to achieve his dreams of becoming a world champion. With both Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury not in rematch action until December, there is a possibility that the winner of this weekend's fight could have the opportunity to take on either Joshua or Dubois. Joyce believes that it only takes one or two fights to get back into the top position, and with a win against Chisora, he will be right back in the mix. The road to the top is never easy, but Joyce remains determined and focused on his ultimate goal of becoming a world champion.
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