After recovering from a wrist injury Joe Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) will fight veteran heavyweight Christian Hammer (27-9, 17 KOs) on July 2 at the OVO Arena, Wembley, London.
Having not fought since beating Carlos Takam 11 months ago ‘The Juggernaut’ had been pencilled in to face fellow contender Joseph Parker this summer. But since their face-off during the Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte broadcast on April 23 negotiations have hit various obstacles and the doors have now closed on that fight for the time being.
Hammer, 34, has been a pro since 2008 and has fought the likes of Tyson Fury, Alexander Povetkin, Luis Ortiz and Hughie Fury. The German’s best wins have come against Erkin Teper, David Price and Michael Wallisch, respectively.
Despite being two years older and having fought only 13 times professionally it is Joyce who is nearing a world title opportunity. The Londoner is the number one contender with the WBO and is at two with the WBC.
“I’ve known about Christian Hammer for a while now,” said Joyce in a Queensbury Promotions press release.
“He has fought everybody, it is going to be a good fight, he comes forward and it will be exciting. It is one to get me ready for the next fights coming up.
“I’ve been out of the ring for a whole year now so it will be good to dust off the gloves and shake off the cobwebs. It is going to be a big year, this year and next, with some great fights and I just need to be in the right place.”
The July 2 card, which will be broadcast live on BT Sport, also features Jason Cunningham v Zolani Tete, Callum Johnson v Igor Mikhalkin, Mark Chamberlain v Marc Videl, and more.