Joe Joyce is looking to bounce back into title contention during 2024 after suffering two defeats to Zhilei Zhang last year, and now he has called out fellow Brit and two-time world champion Anthony Joshua for a fight on an upcoming card in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi adviser and boxing catalyst Turki Alalshikh recently unveiled his intentions to stage a ‘Matchroom versus Queensbury’ card, which would see five of Eddie Hearn’s fighters pitted up against five of Frank Warren’s stable, across five different weight-classes.
As of now, no fighters or divisions on the bill has been revealed, but both Hearn and Warren have agreed to partake in the card, with the latter suggesting the two promoters could further ‘spice things up’ with a wager that their respective fighters will come out on top.
Speaking to Queensberry Promotions, Joyce declared that he would be willing to step in as Warren’s heavyweight selection for the show and admitted that he would face Joshua, who is continuing his own comeback as he aims to regain the heavyweight throne.
“Yeah [I would fight on the card], why not? That would be entertaining.”
[Against] a certain ‘AJ’ maybe.
For now, Joshua will be focussed on his upcoming showdown with Francis Ngannou, where the winner has been promised a shot at the victor of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk and hence the unified world titles, meaning the chances of seeing Joshua vs. Joyce are unlikely.
Meanwhile, ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce has his own bout lined up, as he bids to get back to winning ways against Kash Ali on March 16th in Birmingham.
