In his latest column, the former Olympian and heavyweight contender picks up the pieces from Joe Joyce’s defeat to Zhilei Zhang and looks ahead to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs Jermell Charlo and the prospect of Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr fighting before the end of the year.
Joyce would have never learned to deal with Zhang
Losing to Zhilei Zhang again on Saturday was very difficult for Joe Joyce. I have known him for a lot of years and fully respect who he is and what he does. But I couldn’t see this ending well for him.
I was a bit concerned when it emerged he had put 25lbs on. I understand Joe needed to be able to push him back, I am sure that was the thinking there. But in doing that, they made him far less elusive, and he’s not the most elusive fighter anyway. He was left as a standing target.
It was five months since the first fight. We could have given Joe five years and I don’t think that with the way he boxes, he would have the tools to change his style enough to deal with that southpaw, a southpaw that punches like that. I don’t think he is teachable enough to do that now.
I think Joe was guilty of listening a bit too much to the media. I have seen a lot of rubbish from a lot of different people, suggesting Joe was in a much better place after putting this weight back on. Since when has putting weight on won anyone a fight? It is ludicrous talk from people who don’t have a clue.
Putting weight on doesn’t win you a fight. There is skill, an art to this. Anyone in the world can put some weight on, it might help, it might not, but it is not the key determining factor. It is about the technique, how to avoid that left hand. I think he has been ill-advised, and he and his team got it wrong.
But it’s not over for Joyce
I wouldn’t say Joe has major changes to make behind the scenes. People will write Joe off which is the worst thing you can do. I can only say from experience having been in in the ring with him so many times.
There are only a handful of people that can beat him. Zhang beats him, of course, I think Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua beat him. Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk too. Joyce is just below them which isn’t a bad place to be.
Once he gets back to the Joe Joyce he was, the one who knocked out Joseph Parker, that is a very difficult man to beat. He will of course be disheartened but I think he still gives a lot of people in this division a lot of problems.
I would never write Joe off. When you look at what he has done you have to commend his career. This isn’t a nice place to be but this will pass. He has had two bad defeats, against a fighter who I think would be a bogeyman for a lot of people. Joe is not on the trajectory he was on. But I think there are still big fights out there for him.
We know how this game works, it is crazy. If you string together a few wins you propel yourself right back in there. But the big thing for him now is time. The belts are tied up, tied up for everyone. It is going to be a long time for him before it is his turn, it is just about making sure you are ready when that time does come. Because there will be more opportunities.
Fury, Joshua and Wilder will dodge Zhang now
Zhang is about to be one of the most avoided men in boxing. I know all these boys in this division, there will not be a queue of people wanting to fight him. They will be talking about it on Twitter and Instagram and the fighters will say they fancy it.
I have been in boxing 20 years, they will not be queuing up to fight this guy. Unless they go do it in China for a hell of a lot of money. But he is a huge banana skin for anyone. Anyone looking to break into the top two or three, they might have to fight him. But he is not an easy option.
Benn’s lowkey return a clever move
Conor Benn made his return after 17 months out of the ring in Florida on Saturday night. On his and Matchroom’s behalf, it was a clever move.
The longer period it was from Conor’s return getting announced to fight night, the more the media scrutiny would have built. They left it last minute on purpose, away from the cameras, away from the media. He probably knew three weeks ago that fight was happening.
It was a clever touch from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom just because this wouldn’t have been about the fight, it would be about the failed drug tests and all that has followed. He came up against a very tough man in Rodolfo Orozco.
I think it was a clear tune up for Chris Eubank Jr. Orozco was similar an opponent for Eubank as they could find in terms of his frame and engine.
Benn vs Eubank Jr seems a certainty
All the talk now is building towards that fight. Eubank will want this too, it is the money fight for both men. They will both take it.
In this day and age, I don’t think morals go very far in boxing. People just want to mop as much money as quickly as they can. And I fully understand that, it can be hard to earn money in this career. I get where both are coming from and why both want it, but it is inevitably going to leave a sour taste in the mouths of a lot of people. But I see it happening. It is too big not to happen now.
Canelo still reigning as king
Jermell Charlo has the chance to make history on Saturday night when he moves up two weight divisions to take on the great Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Of course, it is difficult for him. It is the classic case of the bigger man trying to bully Charlo in there. But Charlo is a very skilful fighter, he has that dog in him too, he can fight. He will have to box out of his skin. There will be skill and speed from Charlo early on.
But look what happened to Amir Khan, the last man who jumped up a few weight classes to fight him. He showed all that skill, all that speed and he was eventually wiped out. I think Canelo gets the win.
Good luck to Jordan Thompson
It’s also a big night for Jordan Thompson in his first world title fight against IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.
Jai is a very good champion. He is probably a bit unheard of in this part of the world but I have followed him for a long time, he is a really good fighter and a really good operator.
But Jordan Thompson is the opportunist, he’s grabbed his chance here and he deserves his shot.
It is a difficult night’s work but in that cruiserweight division, it’s not that dissimilar to up at heavyweight. They are big boys, and one punch can change it all. I wish Jordan all the best.
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