Teddy Atlas, renowned boxing trainer and analyst, has been talking about British Heavyweight Joe Joyce and his potential path to a world title.
Atlas hasn’t exactly been full of praise recently for Joyce, after his win against Christian Hammer he called the Brit ‘slow’ and ‘predictable’:
“He takes a good shot, and he has to take a good shot because of his lacking of technique in certain areas especially defence.”
“He’s a good puncher, a heavy-handed puncher, he’s not a snappy puncher but he’s more of a clubbing heavy handed puncher and he can wear you down because he keeps coming at you.”
“He’s slow, he’s predictable, he’s one-dimensional, his feet aren’t fast so him and Tyson Fury it doesn’t seem practical. The only thing practical about it is they’re both across the pond.”
However, on the latest episode of his podcast ‘The Fight’, the American said he believes the 36-year-old is on course for a world title shot:
“I see his toughness and I see his relentlessness, that’s a quality, that’s a quality and an ability.”
“I see him fitting in there and fighting for the world title in the next year.”
“I could have saw him fighting Fury but I think Fury’s retired.”
“If Dillian Whyte versus Fury can put almost a hundred thousand people into Wembley, Joe Joyce could do it, but I can’t see him beating Fury.”
Atlas was asked about whether Chisora would be a good matchup for ‘The Juggernaut’:
“I think Joyce might be a little too young, a little too big, a little too strong.”
“But you know what, Chisora don’t know how to do anything but make wars and make great fights. It would
be fun but I see him [Chisora] coming out on the short end.”
The legendary trainer went on to say a ‘shootout’ against ‘The Bronze Bomber would be explosive:
“I don’t think they’re going to do it, because they know what I know, it’s dangerous, but I’d love to see a shootout between Joyce and Wilder – that would be an earthquake fight.”
The American commentator then made a bold prediction about a potential all-British Joyce vs Joshua bout:
“Joe Joyce could wind up fighting the winner of Usyk and Joshua.”
“I’ll tell you something I think he knocks out Joshua.”
“How does that feel for you Brits? Put that in your pipe and smoke it.”
Joe Joyce is scheduled to be back in the ring this September with an opponent yet to be announced.