The WBC World Heavyweight Champion has had his say on who wins when Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker face off this weekend in Manchester.
Joyce and Parkers’ fight matters in the heavyweight division. The winner steps closer to belts that may be fragmented in the near future, and the loser regresses to the fringe once more.
Tyson Fury, proud owner of own of said belts, has planted his flag firmly in Parker’s corner. He made his prediction to BT Sport Boxing.
“Prediction for the fight – I think it’s going to be a hell of a fight. May the best man win, but I’m edging towards my man, Joe Parker, by late stoppage or unanimous decision.”
It’s no real surprise that Fury picks Parker to do the business come Saturday night. The pair train together, eat together, spar the same people (but not each other), and support one another in their respective campaigns.
He does get on with Joyce too, though – and ‘The Gypsy King’ has suggested that something more than the WBO Interim Title is at stake.
“It’s a battle of the nice guys. It should be a title – WBO Interim, but also Battle for the Nicest Guy in the World of Boxing belt.”
He’s not wrong. Even when the pair were talking about beating each other up at the press conference, it was easy to imagine them sharing a walk on Morecambe Bay in the future.
Still, niceties will be left at the door of Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday night. There’s simply too much to gain here for the winner, and both men know that to get to the top, you have to be ruthless.
Former champion Parker will enter the ring buoyant from two successive wins against the ever-tough Derek Chisora. Joyce remains unbeaten, his last outing a stoppage over Christian Hammer, but this will be perhaps the toughest test of his career.
On fight night, Fury will likely be there cheering on his training partner. The hometown fighter in Joyce will have plenty of supporters too, as the first bell rings on a true 50/50 heavyweight battle that may just help shape the future of the division.
The fight will be broadcast on BT Sport Box Office.