David Haye says Joe Joyce could be regarded as class above Joshua

EXCLUSIVE: David Haye says a knockout victory over Joseph Parker would put Joe Joyce in a class ABOVE Anthony Joshua… claiming the Juggernaut would be ready to face Oleksandr Usyk for a second time

  • Joe Joyce will face Joseph Parker in a heavyweight clash on Saturday evening 
  • The winner of the Manchester fight will take one step closer to a world title shot
  • David Haye has said that Joyce would be ready to fight Oleksandr Usyk in 2023
  • Haye has also said that Joyce would be a class above AJ if he knocked Parker out 

David Haye says Joe Joyce will be held in higher regard than Anthony Joshua if he knocks Joseph Parker out on Saturday night. 

Joyce – who has knocked out 93 per cent of his professional opponents – will be looking to stop Parker in their highly-anticipated heavyweight clash at the AO Arena.

However, Parker has never been knocked out – having only ever lost on unanimous decisions to former IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO champ Joshua and contender Dillian Whyte. 

David Haye says Joe Joyce will be held in higher regard than AJ if he knocks Joseph Parker out

Joyce will face Joseph Parker in a heavyweight clash at the AO Arena on Saturday evening

The winner of Saturday night’s bout will also take one step closer to a world title shot in 2023. Haye says both fighters are ready for the opportunity but admits they must perform well in Manchester. 

Speaking exclusively to Sportsmail, Haye said: ‘I think both fighters have what it takes to fight Oleksandr Usyk. If Parker knocks Joyce out, how can he not be ready for him? 

‘He has beaten every man he has needed to. He has worked his way up the rankings. It’s the same for Joyce. 

Haye says Joyce will be praised for doing something AJ couldn’t do if he knocks Parker out

Joshua was taken the distance for the first time in his professional career when he faced Parker

‘If Joyce manages to beat Joseph Parker he will be ready. Parker is an undefeated heavyweight who has just defeated a former heavyweight champion. 

‘If he manages to knock him out and stop him, that is something Joshua couldn’t do and something Dillian Whyte couldn’t do.

‘So it’s a must win fight for both fighters. They need to perform well so when it comes to the fight with Usyk they head into that fight ready and with momentum behind them.’

Joshua was taken the distance for the first time in his professional career when he stepped into the ring to face Parker. 

AJ was unable to knock the New Zealander out despite heading into the fight with an all-knock-out record.

Dillian Whyte (left) couldn’t knock Parker (right) out in their heavyweight clash either 

Therefore, Haye says Joyce will be held in higher regard than Joshua if he is able to achieve what AJ couldn’t. 

Should Joyce knock Parker out or win via a unanimous decision, he will take a step closer to facing Usyk. 

Haye says Joyce – who is know for his granite chin – has what it takes to face the Ukrainian boxer despite losing to him before.  

Joyce previously faced Usyk in an amateur fight back in 2013, losing on a points decision over five rounds.

They competed in a World Series of Boxing group match with the Ukraine Otamans overcoming the British Lionhearts. 

However, Joyce has since said he would ‘bang out’ Usyk in a rematch of their 2013 clash – claiming he would be entering the fight with ‘more skills’ and a better ‘game plan’.

Haye says Joyce is ready to face Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk (above) for a second time

Speaking to Boxing Social, Joyce said: ‘I’ll be coming with a more skill. I have [coach Ismael] Salas by my side to set the game plan and work on the skills etc. 

‘I didn’t even get Southpaw sparring for the first fight I had with Usyk. I think that on the repeat, styles make fights and I reckon I’ll bang him up.’

However, Joyce must take care of business against Parker this weekend to be in with a chance of facing Usyk in the future. 

The two heavyweight contenders will go head-to-head at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday evening. 

BT Sport Box Office will show Joe Joyce v Joseph Parker exclusively live on Saturday 24th September. Learn more at bt.com/sportboxoffice. 




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