After a difficult 2023, it has been confirmed by promoter Frank Warren that Joe Joyce will indeed be back in the ring and fighting again this year with the location now confirmed.
Joyce was building up a real head of steam until the first of two fights last year. After winning a silver medal in the Olympics he turned pro and immediately started fighting at a decent level and quickly worked his way through the ranks.
Impressive knockout wins came against the likes of Daniel Dubois, Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker and his reputation for being a vast and immovable object with a solid chin was growing with each fight.
But the 38-year-old ‘Juggernaut’ then came up against big Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang in April and found himself stopped on doctor’s orders after ‘Big Bang’s southpaw jab broke his orbital bone.
He quickly came back for a rematch in September but got stopped in an even quicker and more decisive fashion in the third round. Since then, he has been taking time out to rest, recover and consider his options.
Speaking to TalkSport, his promoter Warren has now revealed where Joyce will be fighting next.
“We’re off to Birmingham to the NEC, we’ve got Nathan Heaney defending his title, cracking British talent, and they’re all getting back into position to fight for titles. Joe Joyce will be on that show, he’ll be coming back, he wants to get back in the swing.”