Joe Joyce has accused Joseph Parker of ducking him.
The two heavyweights had agreed to fight one another this summer but since the announcement on April 23 at Wembley Stadium it has turned into a will they-won’t they saga.
During negotiations both teams reported different sides of the story which was played out in the media. But when Parker signed a promotional deal with BOXXER and Sky Sports the proposed fight hit a brick wall with each man now fighting on different TV networks.
Parker, his manager David Higgins, and Joyce’s promoter Frank Warren have all had their say on the breakdown. Today, on social media, ‘The Juggernaut’ decided to have his turn releasing this statement:
“So, Mr Parker, I’ve always wanted to fight you and you pretended you wanted the fight, but in reality you say and do everything to avoid me.”
“After it was all agreed you pulled out of the scheduled date of July 2nd with a BS excuse about your trainer and then you begged to have the fight pushed to September to have more time to train.”
“I agreed. Then you asked for more stuff. That was all agreed. After saying it was all good for weeks you then signed elsewhere.”
“Real talk, you’re full of s**t and you don’t want the fight.”
“Tell your new promoter (Ben Shalom) I’m fighting on September 24th. If you’re not scared, sign the contract. Stop ducking me.”
Joyce, the WBO number one heavyweight contender, returns to the ring this Saturday night at Wembley Arena against Christian Hammer live on BT Sport.