Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker have ‘Nowhere To Run’ and will finally square off on September 24 in Manchester.
The news was confirmed today via press release with a press conference scheduled for later today inside BT Sport Studios.
BT Sports Box Office will screen the fight exclusively live. Promoted by Frank Warren for Queensbury Promotions in association with BOXXER.
When the first bell rings on September 24 it will bring to an end a seven-month period where the fight was on, off and now officially on.
Back on April 23 during BT’s Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte pay-per-view Joyce’s promoter Frank Warren announced that his man and Parker would be fighting in the summer.
The two contenders were in attendance at Wembley Stadium for a face-off, and another backstage. However, the wheels started to wobble when Parker’s manager David Higgins insisted that negotiations had not been concluded.
As the weeks wore on the chances of the fight happening grew slimmer and slimmer. The New Zealander then moved on and signed with BOXXER while Joyce prepared for a new opponent in the shape of Christian Hammer who he beat in four rounds.
The usual verbal sparring between both parties went back and forth with opinions split on what really caused the fight to fall apart.
Fast forward to this week and the fight was resurrected when rumours surfaced that a deal was back on the table.
Frank Warren confirmed as such to Boxing Social yesterday saying:
“Think we’ve done it.”
Joyce is looking forward to getting his hands on Parker after it seemed like the fight would not materialise. In today’s announcement he had this to say:
“This fight has been a long time in the making.”
“Parker realised he had nowhere else to go and eventually had to take this fight. No. 1 Vs No. 2. The winner goes on to fight for the World Title! It’s going to be a cracking fight and you will see why he tried so hard to avoid me!”
‘The Juggernaut’ is unbeaten in his pro career to date with 14 wins and 13 inside the distance. The 36-year-old is also the current WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk who faces Anthony Joshua on August 20.
Parker joined the ranks at BOXXER and Sky in June with the backing of Ben Shalom and has ambitions to become a two-time title holder.
The 30-year-old beat Andy Ruiz in 2016 to become WBO champion but lost the title to Anthony Joshua 15 months later. Now, under the guidance of trainer Andy Lee, the popular contender is looking to get back to the top.
Parker says he will put an end to ‘The Juggernaut’ next month.
“On Saturday, September 24, the fans in Manchester will see the very best of me. Joe Joyce will see exactly why I will become the heavyweight champion of the world again with BOXXER.”
“I am working hard with my trainer Andy Lee, everything is going smoothly and I truly feel great. I have waited patiently to get this fight on and let me tell you now, the Juggernaut’s journey ends right here. He has nowhere to run.”
The undercard will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets for ‘Nowhere to Run’ – the heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Joe Parker – are priced from £40 and will go on sale at 12pm on Tuesday, 9 August exclusively from Ticketmaster.co.uk.