‘You’re full of s***’: Joe Joyce accuses Joseph Parker of ‘doing everything’ to avoid him as the Juggernaut announces he will fight again on September 24 following his Christian Hammer bout this weekend
- Joe Joyce says heavyweight rival Joseph Parker is doing everything to duck him
- The pair were set to fight in July with the fight announced live on BT Sport
- It fell through due to Parker’s trainer, Andy Lee, being unavailable for the fight
- Parker’s switch to Sky Sports has further complicated any negotiations
Joe Joyce insists heavyweight rival Joseph Parker is doing everything in his power to avoid a proposed showdown as the war of words between the fighters and their camps continues.
The heavyweight duo had been scheduled to fight in July in a match-up that was announced live on BT shortly before Tyson Fury’s vicious knockout win over Dillian Whyte in April.
Those plans were shelved due to Andy Lee, Parker’s trainer, being unavailable with his wife set to give birth on the week of the encounter, with Joyce instead turning to Christian Hammer, who he fights this weekend.
Joe Joyce (left) believes Joseph Parker (right) is doing everything to avoid a potential fight
The pair were set to fight in July, but Joyce instead turned to Christian Hammer (right) with Parker’s trainer, Andy Lee, unavailable
The proposed match-up seemed to be off entirely when Parker signed to Sky and BOXXER earlier in June, though promoter Ben Shalom more recently claimed he has made a £1.2million offer to stage the fight in September or October.
Joyce, who is undefeated in his 13-fight career and most recently claimed stoppage wins over Carlos Takam and Daniel Dubois, believes Parker’s intention is to look elsewhere, however.
But the ‘Juggernaut’, in revealing his plans for a second outing of 2022 on September 24, implored his heavyweight rival to agree to a new date.
‘So Mr Parker, I’ve always wanted to fight you and you pretended you wanted the fight, but in reality you say and do everything to avoid me,’ Joyce posted across social media.
‘After it was all agreed you pulled out of the scheduled date of July 2nd with a BS excuse about your trainer and then you begged to have the fight pushed to September to have more time to train. I agreed.
Former world champion Parker signed a new deal with Sky Sports and BOXXER, making negotiations to stage the fight more complicated
Joyce revealed he will fight again on September 24 and implored Parker to sign to a new date
‘Then you asked for more stuff. That was all agreed after saying it was all good for weeks, and then you signed elsewhere.
‘Real talk, you’re full of s*** and you don’t want the fight. Tell your new promoter I’m fighting on September 24th. If you’re not scared, sign the contract. Stop ducking me.’
Joyce’s statement comes shortly after his promoter Frank Warren slammed Shalom, whose offer, if accepted, would see the bout take place on Sky Sports.
‘How to not make a fight,’ Warren tweeted. ‘1. Get everything you want in a contract & then not sign it. 2. Sign with a broadcaster that the guy you ‘want’ to fight doesn’t box on. 3. Make ‘face saving’ public offer for a fight you know now can’t happen. Welcome to Ben Shalom’s first rodeo.’
Joyce is currently the WBO’s No 1 contender and the 36-year-old harnesses ambitions of fighting the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua in their eagerly-anticipated rematch.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has also talked up a potential October showdown against Tyson Fury. Both fights would require Joyce to overcome the challenge of Hammer this weekend, which is not expected to be an issue.
Joyce, the WBO’s No 1 contender, is eyeing up the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua