Anthony Joshua has been officially approached about a fight with Joe Joyce as he continues his search for an interim opponent.
'AJ' is currently searching for an interim fight after his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk was placed into doubt, as Ukrainian took up arms against the Russian invasion. The British star has drawn up a five-man shortlist with his promoter Eddie Hearn which included a clash with domestic rival Joyce.
Queensberry Promotions kingpin Warren believes his charge is more than capable of knocking Joshua over but doesn't expect the fight to be made. “What have you got to lose? I fancy Joe,” Warren told talkSPORT. “For Joe, you look at the two fighters: Joe has got a tremendous chin, he’s got great stamina. They talk about what happened to him as an amateur, well they’re not amateurs anymore, they’re pros.
“If you look at how they’ve got on since they’ve become pros, AJ has done brilliantly. He became world champion. He’s also been beaten twice and he’s been exposed, certainly in his last fight. Very exposed. And I fancy Joe can knock him over. We have made initial contact but I don’t think they’ll go with it. If they want it, they can have it."
Joshua and Joyce met as amateurs with the two-time heavyweight champion stopping his opponent in a matter of minutes. Footage has also been leaked on social media of the pair sparring with Joshua having the upper hand.
However the 'Juggernaut' is undefeated as a professional and is confident that he can get one over on his domestic rival. The pair exchanged insults on social media with Joshua seemingly offended by suggestions he couldn't win tweeting: "Lol ok… I’ve shared this ring with most people you see in the heavyweight division today!
Who would win if the pair fought - Anthony Joshua or Joe Joyce? Let us know in the comments section below
"I boxed Otto Wallin twice as youngsters and I boxed Joe and stopped him in one round. I’d do the same thing today! Ain’t nothing changed." His rival abruptly hit back, writing: "You're having a meltdown, where’s all your belts? "All those sponsorships and endorsements helping? You’re a glass cannon, quit the act, you were given everything #easymode."
Joshua had the last laugh, responding: "By the way, I told you five days ago let’s get it on my yout! Check your Twitter. You ducked it." Joyce previously challenged Joshua to an all-British clash back in March last year and is currently first in the queue as mandatory challenge with the WBO.
Joyce's promoter Warren does not have a good working relationship with Joshua's promoter Hearn but is willing to set differences aside to promote the clash. Several other options could also be explored by Joshua, including Luis Ortiz or Otto Wallin.
