Joseph Parker picks apart the Joe Joyce vs Derek Chisora fight and provides update on his career
In anticipation of tomorrow night’s main event between British heavyweights Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora, Tim Rickson sat down with Joseph Parker, a man who knows both fighters intimately, to break down Saturday’s showdown.
In this exclusive interview, WBO Interim World heavyweight champion Parker shared his thoughts on who he thinks wins the fight at The O2, also revealed his desire to settle the score with Joyce, and provided an update on his career.
Joseph Parker Breaks Down Joyce vs Chisora Fight
Two Londoners are set to light up the Greenwich peninsula this Saturday night, July 27, as ‘Juggernaut’ Joe Joyce (16-2, 15KO) locks horns with Derek ‘WAR’ Chisora (34-13, 23KO) at the O2 Arena, live on DAZN.
The British behemoths are bound to bring drama and action in the main event of the evening, with both popular punchers known for their durability and persistence.
When looking for an opinion on this fight and the contenders involved, who better than common opponent Joseph Parker to provide the lowdown, having spent 35 rounds in the ring with both boxers.
The current WBO Interim World heavyweight champion spoke exclusively to SportsBoom about this weekend’s bill topper.
Parker began, “I fought both guys and they’re both very tough. Joyce is coming off a win over Kash Ali. But, I mean, he’s really coming off those two losses to Zhang.
“Joyce obviously beat me and it’s the first time I’ve ever been stopped, so he’s a very tough fighter, but he’s coming into this fight with Chisora who just never seems to stop, just keeps coming.
“I think in Chisora’s last few fights he hasn’t looked the same, but he’s always got this belief in himself.”
Time to Retire?
The 32-year-old then added how he doesn’t believe this fight is ‘make or break’ for either competitor. However, with both fighters nearing the end of their careers, the outcome could bring one of them a step closer to retirement.
“For me, he was tough in our first fight; the second fight, I changed the gameplan, but I’m not sure if it’s ‘make or break’ for both guys. They’re in their late thirties, and I think Chisora said he wants 50 fights and he’s on 48 right now, and Joyce doesn’t have too long in the game as well; well, you never know, he might carry on ‘til he’s over 40.
“Whoever wins is going to progress and whoever loses is closer to retirement.”
Chisora’s Right Hand Will Be Key
“I feel with Chisora, that overhand right he throws it very well, and I recall he landed a very good overhand right against [Carlos] Takam, so I feel like that will be key for him because,” Parker replied, when asked about Chisora’s in-ring strengths.
“As we saw in Joyce’s last fight with Kash Ali, he was very susceptible to the right hand, but he ate them, but sometimes one punch can change everything, and I’m not sure if Kash Ali is a heavy hitter but we all know that Chisora is.
“Both guys like to pressure fight. Both guys have got a great following, they’ve both had success at the O2 Arena. Chisora has a cult following, they all love him, they all cheer for him, and I know when he hangs up his gloves, they’ll all celebrate his career, but for now, I feel like he still wants to show that he’s got a lot to give.
“Again, the last fight, I don’t really see the same Chisora, but who knows, he may come out different in this fight.
“I feel like both these guys will put on a good performance. There’s a lot of excitement for it but there’s also people saying, ‘what’s the point in this fight?’ But when you’re a fighter you just want to fight and keep as active as you can.
“I’m looking forward to watching it. They both throw a lot of punches, I know Chisora throws a lot of punches, they both do. Punches in bunches and combinations, and it’s going to be intriguing to see who’s going to land the cleaner shots, who’s going to be rattled, who’s going to be hurt more, because they’re both very tough fighters.”
Parker’s Fight Prediction
Without providing a precise prediction, Parker revealed he is leaning towards Joyce over Chisora.
“I feel like the favourite would be Joyce, if you compare the different performances of late. But heavyweight boxing, you just don’t know.”
More Joe Joyce vs Derek Chisora fight predictionsSmall Changes Could See Joyce Back on Top
Parker is currently in possession of the WBO Interim title that Joyce won against him 22 months ago.
The Brit was able to overcome the Kiwi in the penultimate 11th round of their headlining fight in Manchester in September 2022.
It changed hands from Joyce to Zhang, then to Parker, who has faith in his former opponent to come good again.
“I’m sure he can, but it’s all up to him. It’s about how he approaches the fights and it’s about his training. There’s a fine line to getting the training camp right,” the Kiwi added, when asked if Joyce could rise back to the top of the heavyweight division.
“When I fought Joyce, it’s not an excuse, but I got the training camp wrong and I had a few issues in terms of health and that, but he was able to get a great win over me and then he went into the fight with Zhang, which was a tough fight.
“But I think he can get there, it’s just about making these small changes and little adjustments, they can make a big difference in his approach or in how he’s going to perform.”
Parker vs Joyce 2?
Since Parker fought Joyce in 2022, he has been on an impressive five-fight winning streak, including major scalps over Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder.
The pair have completely switched around, with Parker atop of the WBO rankings and Joyce all the way down at #14.
This new landscape could see Joyce eyeing a rematch with in-form, in-demand Parker to try and get back his belt. Parker, too, would relish the return.
“I’ll obviously rematch him; I know I can beat him. I know I can, it’s just he beat me in the first fight, congratulations to him, but if I fight him again, I believe full-heartedly that I can beat him.
“But words are just words, I can say I’ll beat him, but it’s really if we get into the ring then that’ll be the tell-tale to see if my words actually are true.”
Parker is Ready and Waiting
The man from Auckland has just one loss on his record during his last dozen bouts, so he is riding the crest of a wave right now in his career.
That said, there’s been a slight pause in his activity. After five fights in just 18 months, the busy boxer hasn’t fought since March.
He attempted to shed light on when his next ring appearance may be.
“I wish I knew. I absolutely have no idea. I’m in New Zealand spending time with family, training every day, I’m ready to go whenever.
“If they lock in a fight soon, then I’ll start training camp with Andy Lee, but for now, I was sort of told September, then I was told maybe October, now I’m told maybe December, so just practising patience, but I am building away here in New Zealand.
“But my next fight is going to be different, it’s going to be very good compared to the one with Zhang, there’s going to be more punches, I’ll be bigger, stronger and faster and I’m looking forward to knocking out whoever, whenever,” he concluded.
