Joe Joyce believes Anthony Joshua’s team are in the process of ‘cashing out’ following news that he won’t be fighting again until the end of the year.
Despite the promises of three bouts in 2023, Joshua took to social media after his points decision over Jermaine Franklin to announce that he wouldn’t be back out until December – skipping a previously mentioned July fight and saying that it was ‘not ideal.’
Whilst his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has said that “nothing is decided”, fans have interpreted the news as a signal that a big-money scrap has been set up for the end of the year.
If that’s the case, it goes against Hearn’s previous opinion – shared by many pundits – that ‘AJ’ needs more activity under new trainer, Derrick James.
Joyce, it seems, feels that too, and told IFL TV that the decision to wait until December is ‘cashing out.’
“I think Eddie Hearn and his team are cashing out, and he’s ripe for the picking. I think The Juggernaut will take him out.”
If he gets his shot at Joshua, Joyce is as confident as ever about how things play out. A fight with WBC Champion, Tyson Fury, is seemingly there for him in the future, too, so ‘The Juggernaut’ just wants to see the matchmakers get to work.
“Plenty of history there. Two arguably Gold Medalists going at it for who’s gonna be number one in the UK. But I mean there’s Fury, who mentioned my name and he talks highly of me. That is a fight I want, I’m just disappointed about the undisputed falling through. Just looking forward to making these big fights.”
“Based on that performance against Franklin I would have [bashed him up.] But I think it’d be a good fight and may the best man win. Once the fight gets made and it’s solid and concrete – because you can do all the talking you want till you go blue.”
If ‘AJ’ is to face a period of inactivity, Joyce is not willing to do the same. He fights Zhilei Zhang this weekend with his WBO Interim title on the line, and intends to bang the door down for a title shot should he get the victory.