Following Joe Joyce’s knockout victory over former WBO Heavyweight World Champion Joseph Parker, legendary trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas has predicted that he would also spark out fellow Brit Anthony Joshua, if the two ever crossed paths.
On his podcast, THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, the former trainer of two-time heavyweight title challenger Alexander Povetkin, stated how he normally talks about possibilities for how each fight could go, but how in this instance could only see one outcome.
“If he [Joshua] fights [Joe] Joyce, he is getting knocked out.”
“This man Joyce, is too big, too strong and too tough for Joshua and too hungry right now at this point in his life for Joshua.
He’s [Joshua] done great things, but he’s not hungry. Like the great Marvin Hagler would say, maybe he’s been sleeping in silk sheets too much now. It’s hard to sleep in silk sheets and still get up at 5am in the morning, and do rope work and then get in the ring with another man, who is trying to destroy you.”
Despite the decisive prediction, Atlas reassured fans of Anthony Joshua, that they needn’t worry about their man being knocked out by ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce, as he doesn’t see the fight ever happening.
“You’re never going to have to worry about that, my beloved friends over there [in the U.K.], because Joshua would never get in the ring with him [Joyce]. That’s not a knock on him [Joshua], he’s a smart guy.”
“Joshua knows his limitations now, so he ain’t getting in there with Joyce.”
Joyce is clearly highly-rated by Atlas, who went on to draw comparison between the 36-year-old and boxing legend “Big George” Foreman, which is high praise from someone so respected in the boxing industry.
The next step for Joyce is a precarious one, with the belts seemingly tied up and any fight putting his #1 WBO ranking at risk, however he is fast becoming a fan favourite and it shouldn’t be long before he stakes his claim for a world title shot.