Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora to Clash at The O2 in July

Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora are set to headline a much-anticipated clash at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, 27 July. The bout, broadcast live on TNT Sports, promises a thrilling encounter between two of the UK’s top heavyweights.

Long-Awaited Domestic Collision

This domestic collision has been a long time in the making. Joe Joyce, with a record of 16-2 (15 KOs), has been calling out Derek Chisora since 2019. Chisora, a two-time world title challenger with a record of 34-13 (23 KOs), rebounded from his 2022 defeat to Tyson Fury with a decision victory over Gerald Washington in August last year at The O2.

Impressive Résumés

Chisora’s recent opponents include notable names such as Carlos Takam, Dillian Whyte, Senad Gashi, Artur Szpilka, Oleksandr Usyk, Joseph Parker, and Kubrat Pulev. Joyce, on the other hand, boasts victories over Takam, Daniel Dubois, and Parker. However, he faced setbacks in consecutive clashes against Zhilei Zhang before returning to winning form with a 10th round KO against Kash Ali in Birmingham this March.

Promoter’s Perspective

Promoter Frank Warren emphasised the significance of this match-up, stating, “This is a proper old school heavyweight fight that seems to have been a long time in the making. I remember it being talked about strongly even before we teamed up with Joe and it has always struck me as a natural and obvious fight to make.”

Stakes and Implications

Both fighters are eager to re-establish themselves at the top of the heavyweight division. “Two top London heavies fighting it out for a place back at the top table promises to deliver a cracking scrap. The winner is right back in business, with no real place to go for the loser,” Warren added.

Under Card Announcements

In addition to the headline bout, the event will feature an exciting undercard, including fighters Dennis McCann, Henry Turner, Archie Sharp, Sean Noakes, and Aadam Hamed, with more announcements expected in the coming weeks.

This clash at The O2 is set to be a pivotal moment for both Joyce and Chisora as they vie for a prominent place in the heavyweight rankings.