Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora meet in a crossroads heavyweight fight on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. Joyce, 38, and Chisora, 40, both know that a defeat could end their careers.
Joyce was a latecomer to boxing and chose to follow the path to the Olympics rather than turn professional, but he made up for lost time by fighting big names early in his career having won silver at Rio 2016. Both have recorded fine victories in their bruising careers; BoxingScene has ranked their best so far.
10. Derek Chisora-Kevin Johnson, February 2014
Chisora was flying after four consecutive stoppage wins and was given a tough test against the former world-title challenger Kevin Johnson. The American was known for his granite chin, because he had never been stopped in his four defeats as a professional. Chisora, full of confidence, produced a dominant display and knocked the tough Johnson down in round five with a right hand. Johnson was able to use his movement and skills to survive to the final bell, but he was well beaten by Chisora, who fought Tyson Fury in a rematch shortly after.
9. Derek Chisora-Danny Williams, May 2010
Back in 2010 the young Chisora was chasing the British title and faced the defending champion Danny Williams. Chisora was undefeated, and taking a big step up against Williams, who at his peak had fought Vitali Klitschko and beaten Mike Tyson.
Chisora impressed in stopping the then-37-year-old in the second round. His represented a high-profile victory, at Upton Park.
8. Joe Joyce-Carlos Takam, July 2021
Joyce was given a tough test against the Frenchman Carlos Takam, and passed with flying colors. The undefeated heavyweight got off to a slow start after absorbing some strong right hands but he continued to march forwards. Takam, recognised for his work-rate, started to tire midway through, and after a barrage of heavy shots the referee Steve Gray waved the action over. Victory strengthened Joyce’s status as one of the division’s leading contenders.
7. Joe Joyce-Bryant Jennings, July 2019
Joyce fought American southpaw Bryant Jennings in what then represented his hardest contest. Jennings had previously gone 12 rounds with Wladimir Klitschko; Joyce tested him early on and continued to use his size and pressure to hunt him down. Joyce may have been unable to stop Jennings, but he was sufficiently dominant he earned a unanimous decision.
6. Derek Chisora-Malik Scott, July 2013
Chisora fought the then-undefeated Malik Scott in the hope of pursuing another title shot after losing to Vitali Klitschko a year earlier. Chisora had also since lost to David Haye, so was under pressure to beat a reputable opponent.
Scott started well by outboxing the slower Chisora via his speed and mobility. Chisora continued to hunt Scott – attempting to cut off the ring and by throwing wild hooks. When Scott was finally caught in the sixth by an overhand right he went down, and he didn’t answer the count.
5. Joe Joyce-Bermane Stiverne, February 2019
Joyce fought the former world champion Bermane Stiverne for the Commonwealth title. Stiverne, incidentally, hadn’t boxed since his stoppage defeat by Deontay Wilder for the WBC title two years earlier.
Joyce proceeded to make light work of him – by piling on the pressure from the opening bell, and he dropped Stiverne in round three. Stiverne struggled to keep Joyce off and spent significant periods by the ropes, until eventually in the sixth Joyce’s pressure delivered when the referee waved the action over.
4. Derek Chisora-Kubrat Pulev, July 2022
Chisora’s last big win came against Kubrat Pulev. They had boxed once before in 2016, when Pulev emerged with the European title. Chisora was under huge pressure after three successive defeats, and another against Pulev would have spelled the end of his career towards the top.
They fought at a relentless pace, and Chisora impressed in outworking and earning a split-decision victory over his old rival. Victory ultimately earned him a third fight with Fury, and a shot at the WBC heavyweight title.
3. Derek Chisora-Carlos Takam, July 2018
Chisora squared off with Takam in one of his most entertaining fights. Under pressure after defeat by Agit Kabayel, he was matched with the respected Takam, who was coming off of a loss to Anthony Joshua – then the world’s leading heavyweight – when Joshua struggled to finish him until winning in the 10th round because of a cut over Takam’s eye.
Takam and Chisora may have had a 20-foot ring to compete in, but they fought as if in a phone booth. They exchanged on the ropes – throwing everything at each other – and Takam looked to be getting the better of their exchanges. In the eighth round, however, Chisora threw a huge overhand right to put Takam down, and though he returned to his feet he was stopped moments later with the exact same shot. Chisora had revived his career, and would have a rematch with Dillian Whyte next.
2. Joe Joyce-Joseph Parker, September 2022
Joyce fought the former world champion Joseph Parker in a battle between two of the heavyweight division’s leading contenders. Parker was fresh off of two wins over Chisora, and having been the first to take Joshua the distance he had also never been stopped.
Joyce applied his relentless pressure in typical fashion – walking the smaller Parker down, and appearing unfazed by his power. The sheer size and volume of punches coming Parker’s way became increasingly harder to handle, and in the 11th round Joyce finally put him down. The sight of Parker on unsteady legs, falling into the ropes, prompted the referee to wave the fight over. That victory looks even more impressive in 2024, given Parker went on to beat Wilder and Zhilei Zhang – a fighter who has since stopped Joyce twice.
1. Joe Joyce-Daniel Dubois, November 2020
Joyce and Daniel Dubois met behind closed doors owing to restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Their contest, for the vacant British heavyweight title, could have sold out any arena in the UK; the winner would also instantly be considered a force at world level. A combination of Dubois’ heavy hands and the limitations of Joyce’s defence also meant that Dubois was heavily favored.
Their fight started as expected – Dubois gunning for Joyce from early. He struggled to put a dent in him, however, and Joyce’s pressure ensured that Dubois struggled to fight at the same pace. It was in the 10th round when the young heavyweight came undone. A stiff left jab from Joyce fractured his eye socket, forcing him to take a knee for the count of 10. Joyce lifted the famous Lonsdale belt against the odds; he had also ensured that he would come to be considered Britain’s most promising heavyweight.
Read the full article here
