By Mark Eisner: Highly ranked heavyweight contender Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) will be returning to the ring after a one-year layoff tonight against the capable Christian Hammer (27-9, 17 KOs) in the 12-round main event at the Wembley Arena in London.
Boxing News 24 will be giving live updates & results of the action below for the Joyce vs. Hammer card.
- Unbeaten light-welterweight prospect Henry Turner (8-0, 1 KOs) defeated journeyman Jakub Laskowski (4-17-1, 2 KOs) by a 60-54 points decision.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist Joyce had planned on fighting Joseph Parker, but that match couldn’t be made. Hence, the 34-year-old veteran Hammer has been brought in to give the ‘Juggernaut’ some rounds.
“You can expect good things. He’s game and looks like he’s hungry, and I think it’s going to be a tough fight,” Joe Joyce said to Behind The Gloves about his 12-round stay-busy match tonight against 34-year-old journeyman Christian Hammer.
Undercard:
Jason Cunningham vs. Zolani Tete
Nathan Heaney vs. Nizar Trimech
Mark Chamberlain vs. Marc Vidal
Micky Burke vs. Serge Ambormor
Henry Turner vs. Jakub Laskowski
“He’s durable, and he throws bombs,” Joyce continued about Hammer. “Let’s see if he can live with me over the rounds. Yeah, to try and get him out of there sooner than other people will be a bonus.
“But as he said, he’s had a training camp, so it’s going to be tough, and it’s heavyweight boxing. I need to be careful. I’ve got myself in a good position, and I want to keep it.
“I’m disappointed, and I think the fans are as well, and everyone who is going to tune in to watch it. It’s such a big event that would happen, but it’s just unfortunate. It happens in boxing,” said Joyce when asked about his thoughts on his previously planned fight against former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker falling through.
“I’ve got myself in a good position. I’m #1 with the WBO and #2 WBC, so there are plenty of good fights out there for me. I’m coming off an injury, and I’ve rehabbed all that.
“I’ve been out in Vegas and done three camps in Vegas with [Ismael] Salas, so I’ve been improving and adding more weapons to my arsenal. I’m in a good place and have a warmup fight with Hammer.
“I’m not overlooking him because he’ll be a tough night’s work, I think. Quack-quack, him and his team,” said Joyce when asked if Parker is ducking him.
“He needs to fight me; I don’t need to fight him,” ‘The Juggernaut’ said about Parker. “I’m at the level where I can fight these guys,” said Joyce about his comments in reaction to Anthony Joshua in leaked sparring from years ago.
“With the AJ thing, the footage was leaked of sparring, and he’s saying he’ll beat me in a round and stuff like that. So, I got to fight back and give my opinion,” said Joyce.
