Juggernaut Joe Joyce beaten by Derek Chisora
Joe Joyce defeated by Derek Chisora at the O2 on Saturday, July 27.
It was the heavyweight slugfest everyone expected but with an outcome not many predicted.
Both Londoners are known for their durability and relentlessness, so the stage was set for drama, and it didn’t disappoint.
In round two, Chisora was on the ropes getting bombarded by the Putney puncher at close range, but was firing back successfully with big left and right hooks.
Chisora kept landing big left hooks and overhand rights on the former WBO Interim World champion, who did not stop throwing for a single second.
The 38-year-old was relentless, as per usual, but Chisora was able to land counter shots cleanly. JJJ was on the front foot for the entire fight but Delboy was countering back strongly.
But then, in round nine, Chisora landed a big straight right as Joyce was coming in with a one-two and was floored viciously.
The Olympian spent a couple of seconds on his back, clearly stunned, but then jumped back to his feet again.
The Juggernaut came out for the 10th and final round punching from range, but was soon caught up in a toe to tow slugfest again, even going down once more but by a slip, not a punch.
Both boxers thought they’d won as the final bell tolled, but it was Delboy who had his arm raised with scores of 97-92 and 96-94 twice.
Shared opponent, Oleksandr Usyk was at ringside watching on, and even predicted that Derek would win the fight. The undisputed world heavyweight champion even went as far as to say that his pick would win with ease, “Oh easy, just don’t know, just win.”
The incredible Ukrainian received an a rapturous reception from the British boxing fans.
Dennis McCann vs Ionut Baluta
Maidstone’s ‘Menace’ McCann was able to right the only wrong in his flourishing career, with a unanimous decision over the pesky Romanian Ionut Baluta, who held the British prospect to a draw last August.
One judge had it 120-108 to the 23-year-old from Kent, who picked up the vacant European title to add to his British and Commonwealth belts, completing the set.
Moses Itauma vs Mariusz Wach
Chatham contender Moses Itauma made another statement by stopping the experienced Mariusz Wach in two.
The heavyweight prospect landed a crunching left hook from an awkward angle after pivoting deftly to his right, with the feet as fleeting as a welterweight, to floor the Polish puncher.
The southpaw cornered the 44-year-old Viking and very patiently and maturely peppered the former top 10 heavyweight with straight shots from range, cleverly mixing to body and head with a variety of shots until the referee rightly stopped the action with around 40 seconds to go in the second.
The commentator described the Kent man as “the future of the heavyweight division and the most exciting man in British boxing” and he’s not wrong.