---
title: "Joe Joyce Rates Usyk’s Power: ‘His Punches Felt Like Slaps’"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/joe-joyce-rates-usyk-power/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kerr Ferguson"
section: "News"
published: "2023-01-23T09:46:28Z"
modified: "2023-01-23T09:46:28Z"
---

# Joe Joyce Rates Usyk’s Power: ‘His Punches Felt Like Slaps’

Joe Joyce has recalled what it was like being hit by Oleksandr Usyk when they fought in the amateur ranks.

The pair met in a fight at London’s York Hall back in 2013. [The World Series of Boxing matchup](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/joe-joyce-oleksandr-usyk-news-28000926) was set over five rounds, and Usyk emerged as a clear points winner despite Joyce having some success.

Of course, a lot has changed since then. Both undefeated as professionals, the pair are coming dangerously close to lacing up and throwing down once more.

[Although Usyk is tied up in negotiations with Tyson Fury for an undisputed fight](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/usyk-responds-to-fury-with-axe/), Joyce finds himself the mandatory challenger for one of the Ukrainian’s unified titles and will be waiting in the wings for his shot this year.

In an interview with [Queensberry Promotions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq7IXS663Yw&t=84s), Joyce spoke about his former opponent’s power, pointing out that it wasn’t the typical ‘thudding’ style of heavyweight striking.

> “I remember when we fought it was like stinging power – it wasn’t thudding … I could feel the punches. You know like slaps, they’re more stinging? Yeah. Faster and more stinging. At the time. But I guess now he’s put on more size so they’ll be more thudding and he’s knocked out people.”

When asked about [Usyk’s recent physique picture](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/usyk-mocks-tyson-fury-again/) in relation to his heavyweight campaign to become undisputed, Joyce said that the Ukrainian was likely playing to his strengths.

> “He looked trim, yeah. That’s good. He looks healthy and strong … swimming and stuff, so his cardio is probably good.”
>
> “Maybe \[he wants to be smaller\] for the speed. He was putting on size to maybe get more power but then I don’t know if the power was effective, so he might as well just be fast.”

Much has been made of Usyk’s size ahead of the potential bout with Tyson Fury – a bonafide super heavyweight at six foot nine inches and around 270lb.

Fury is adamant that he’ll simply be too big, and when he catches the smaller man – which he’s confident he will – it won’t last long. Usyk is undeterred, having faced similar predictions in his two bouts against Anthony Joshua, both of which he won.

As fans await an announcement, [Joyce is expected to stay active with an intriguing fight with Zhilei Zhang](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/joe-joyce-set-to-fight-zhilei-zhang-on-april-15th-in-london/) – and ‘Big Bang’ certainly can boast thudding power.