Joyce vs Hammer: Ring walk time, TV details, undercard, odds
Joe Joyce makes his return to the ring against heavyweight Christian Hammer as ‘Juggernaut’ looks to push towards a clash against the Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua winner: Everything to know ahead of the fight
- Joe Joyce returns to the ring as he takes on Christian Hammer tonight
- The Juggernaut had been set to fight Joseph Parker before a deal fell through
- Joyce hasn’t fought since his impressive KO win over Carlos Takam last July
- He has recovered from a wrist injury which has kept him out of the ring this year
Joe Joyce makes his return to the ring against experienced heavyweight campaigner Christian Hammer tonight.
The ‘Juggernaut’ had been expected to square off in an eagerly-anticipated clash against former world champion Joseph Parker, before the New Zealander signed with Sky Sports, putting that deal on hold.
Promoter Frank Warren has now ruled out a fight between the two, but Joyce also has his eyes on the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua, while Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has talked up a showdown against Tyson Fury.
Joyce, unbeaten in 13 outings, claimed an impressive knockout win over Carlos Takam last July, having stopped heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois the previous year.
Joe Joyce returns to the ring next weekend against heavyweight Christian Hammer
He had been set to fight Joseph Parker (right) before the eagerly-anticipated bout fell through
The 36-year-old hasn’t been as active as he would have liked, however, in part due to a wrist injury – which he has now recovered from – which kept him out of the ring earlier this year.
Hammer certainly knows his way around a ring, having been in with the likes of Fury, the Gypsy King’s cousin Hughie, Luis Ortiz and Alexander Povetkin, though losing on each occasion.
The 34-year-old needed under a round to stop journeyman Drazan Janjanin in May, having lost on points to Frank Sanchez earlier in the year. Joyce is expected to come through the test with little trouble.
As the spectacle edges ever closer, Sportsmail takes you through everything you need to know.
The clash between Joyce and Hammer is scheduled to take place tonight at The SSE Arena in London.
The pair are expected to walk to the ring at around 10pm UK time, though that will of course depend on results beforehand, with an abundance of action also taking place on the undercard.
Also on the card is an eagerly-anticipated bout between European super-bantamweight champion Jason Cunningham and two-weight world champion Zolani Tete.
Callum Johnson will also take to the ring for the first time this year as he fights Igor Mikhalkin for the WBC Silver light-heavyweight title.
How to watch the fight
The fight, which will be a 12-round contest, will be broadcast live on BT Sport.
Those not subscribed to BT Sport can sign up for a contract-free monthly pass for a price of £25. Viewers can then also stream the fight using their app or web player.
Alternatively, there are a number of BT Sport packages you can sign up for HERE.
Sportsmail will also be covering the fight live, so you can keep up-to-date with us.
Joyce vs Hammer: The key stats
Joe Joyce
Age: 36
Height: 6ft 6in
Reach: 80′
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 13-0-0
Knockouts: 12
Rounds: 59
Debut: 2017
Christian Hammer
Age: 34
Height: 6ft 2.5in
Reach: 78′
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 27-9-0
Knockouts: 17
Rounds: 207
Debut: 2008
Joyce claimed an impressive stoppage win over Carlos Takam in his most recent outing last
Hammer has lost nine of 36 feats, including a stoppage defeat to Hughie Fury last year
Fight card in full
- Joe Joyce vs Christian Hammer
- Jason Cunningham vs Zolani Tete
- Callum Johnson vs Igor Mikhalkin
- Nathan Heaney vs Nizar Trimech
- Mark Chamberlain vs Marc Vidal
- Micky Burke vs Serge Ambomo
- Henry Turner vs Jakub Laskowski
What’s been said?
Joyce is expected to blast through the 34-year-old, but the Juggernaut insists his opponent – who stopped the little-known Drazan Janjanin in a round just a weeks ago in May – is capable of lasting the full 12 rounds.
‘He looks fired up and ready, so I expect an exciting fight tomorrow night,’ Joyce told Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions at Friday’s weigh-in.
‘He’s game and ready and he’ll be trying to knock me out. I’m goin to get back to the room, chill out and get ready for fight night.’
He continued: ‘I’ll probably get to work and see what he’s got in the early rounds, start figuring him out, figure out the patterns, see where he’s weak and avoid the big shots. Then I’ll start going to work with my own stuff.’
Joyce insists his bout against Hammer will help prepare him for the bigger challenges to come
The ‘Juggernaut’ is looking to take on the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua
Joyce has also called out former sparring partner Joshua in the build-up to the fight.
He said: ‘If by some miracle Joshua beats Usyk, he will have to face me or vacate the belt.
‘His chin has gone and I don’t think his heart is fully in the game any more – he’s a businessman more interested in lecturing students.’
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