Joe Joyce got back to winning ways with a final-round stoppage win over Kash Ali in Telford at the weekend, and while ‘The Juggernaut’ is being linked to a plethora of top heavyweight names, there is one familiar foe who could well chase an unexpected rematch.
The Olympic silver medallist famously knocked out Joseph Parker in 2022, and the Kiwi went on to have a contrasting time to Joyce since, picking up wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, whilst Joyce was cast aside following his two stoppage losses to Zhang.
The resurgence of Parker has birthed talks of a potential rematch between the pair, as Parker aims to avenge the lone knockout loss of his career, and Joyce has shown interest himself, as a win would skyrocket him back up the rankings.
Another potential rematch would be against Daniel Dubois, who Joyce famously made ‘quit’ when they met for the British title in 2020.
Although Dubois’ trainer Don Charles believes Tony Yoka should get the opportunity to recreate the 2016 Olympic final, after he was also appointed as Yoka’s trainer late last year, he told Boxing Scene.
“There’s a fight right there in the future for Tony Yoka, because he [Yoka] got given the gold in Rio, [and] so many, including myself, believe Joe won that fight in Rio.
“That’s a great rematch right there; Joe Joyce and Tony Yoka. I think people will be interested in that, and that could be a great fight in the future.”
Yoka controversially got the better of Joyce in the 2016 Olympic final in Rio, but has struggled since switching to the professional game despite past amateur triumphs over the likes of Filip Hrgovic and Joseph Parker, losing his last three professional bouts.
