Brixton’s Dillian Whyte gave a scathing assessment of Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce’s performance last Saturday, despite Joyce claiming the Commonwealth strap in just his fourth professional outing.
On the undercard of Tony Bellew-David Haye II, the man from Putney, London, played with Jamaican Lenroy Thomas, dropping him three times in two rounds to get his hands on his first major belt.
In attendance at London’s O2 arena was his fellow heavyweight and Londoner, Dillian Whyte who was far from impressed by Joyce’s stoppage victory. The WBC number one ranked contender, said:
“He’s got a good engine and a decent boxing brain but he leads with his head. Anyone who’s a clever fighter will clip him because his head, and his chin, are up. Throw a big overhand right or a left hook, and you’ll do him.
“If Joyce got in the ring with me, I would destroy him.”
“Why did he stay amateur for so long? Because he wasn’t good enough. He waited for the good amateurs, like Anthony Joshua, to go through. He just wasn’t good enough.”
In response to Whyte’s typically charged words, the 32-year-old took to social media and Tweeted:
“In your own words, LET’S GO, BABY, LET’S GO!!! Make the call #THEJUGGERNAUT
.@DillianWhyte In your own words, “LET’S GO BABY, LET’S GO!!!” Make the call ☎️ #THEJUGGERNAUThttps://t.co/oSlSdXdTu0
— Joe Joyce (@JoeJoyceBoxing) May 10, 2018
Dillian Whyte has repeatedly said he’ll fight anyone but at this stage in his career he has a lot to lose. He’s mandatory in waiting to Deontay Wilder’s WBC crown, and the hugely lucrative Anthony Joshua rematch would slip through his fingers if he were to come unstuck against a 4-0 fighter.
At 32-years-old Joyce has little time to waste, so expect to hear the mild-mannered Commonwealth champion making more noise.