Boxing legend Mike Tyson has recently praised WBO interim heavyweight champion Joe Joyce ahead of his highly-anticipated fight against Zhilei Zhang set to take place on April 15. Joyce is currently one of the best heavyweights in the world with an impressive record of 15 wins and no losses. Zhang, on the other hand, is a veteran looking to make a late-career resurrection and get back to winning ways following his hard-fought loss to Filip Hrgovic last year.
While the fight might be close, ‘Iron’ Mike believes that the British boxer has not yet been tested. Joyce’s hardest fight came last year when he defeated former interim champion Joseph Parker and take home the WBO title. Moreover, ‘Iron’ Mike made some interesting comments about the level of competition Joyce has faced in his career.
Mike Tyson gets candid about Joe Joyce ahead of his next fight
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In an interview with IFL TV, Tyson was asked to share his thoughts on the ‘Juggernaut’ ahead of his fight with Zhang. He claimed that it would be an interesting fight and also wanted to see how Joyce would perform under pressure. He added that the British boxer has already “slaughtered” every opponent put his way. However, ‘Iron’ Mike wanted to see him cope with adversity.
“He’s a very interesting fighter you know. He’s very tough but durable. I just wanna see how he gets treated when he’s beaten on. He has beaten good guys that he shouldn’t be beating, as far as the records go, but he is slaughtering them. I think he is slow but he is very determined,” said Tyson.
His praise of Joyce ahead of his fight is a testament to his talent and potential in the heavyweight division. Joyce’s impressive record and Tyson’s glowing remarks make for an exciting buildup to what promises to be a thrilling fight.
Joe Joyce claims he could knock out Anthony Joshua
The British boxer is certainly confident that he could get the better of his fellow countryman. The interim champion was left unimpressed by Anthony Joshua‘s performance against Jermaine Franklin which he won via unanimous decision. Speaking to Sky Sports, Joyce claimed that he could knock both Joshua as well as Franklin out if either man would fight him. “I’d knock both of them out with their performance the other night. I’d definitely force a stoppage on Franklin and Joshua’s ripe for the picking,” he said
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Despite being 37 years old, Joyce has seen a late-career boom. Moreover, if he comes out on top against Zhang, this will certainly catapult him into title contention.
Read More: Mike Tyson Doubts Joe Joyce’s Ability to Beat Tyson Fury: “He’s Not Gonna Do It”
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What did you think about Tyson praising Joyce ahead of his next fight? Let us know in the comments.
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