Carlos Takam hopes victory over Joe Joyce later this month will prove a springboard for a rematch with unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Back in October 2017, Takam stepped in at 10 days’ notice to challenge Joshua following a late injury withdrawal by Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. The French-Cameroonian performed creditably before losing on his feet in the 10th round at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
That loss still stings and veteran Takam feels an upset win over WBO No.2 contender Joyce (12-0, 11 KOs) at the SSE Arena in Wembley on July 24 can push his claims for a Joshua rematch at greater notice.
“The story between Joshua and me is not finished,” insisted Takam (39-5-1, 28 KOs), who is now based in Las Vegas, Nevada. “There is unfinished business with Joshua. That fight still hurts me.
“I took that fight at 10 days’ notice. The referee stopped the fight and I don’t know why. Nobody ever told me. I was also meant to fight [Oleksandr] Usyk twice, but it never happened and he didn’t want me.”
Putney’s Joyce has been matched strongly as a pro and feels Takam is the test he needs as he edges closer to a world title shot on the back of his stoppage win over the touted Daniel Dubois last November.
“I have had tough tests throughout my career so why stop?” Joyce told Queensberry Promotions’ Dev Sahni. “This is a great fight. Takam brings an all-action fight and it is going to be a good one. I want to give the fans what they want to see. This will lead on to some better fights, but I am not overlooking him.”
Main image: Joshua and Takam square up in October 2017. Photo: Lawrence Lustig/Matchroom Boxing.
