Deontay Wilder has been offered a fight with Joe Joyce for his boxing return later this year.
Former heavyweight champion Wilder hasn't fought since being knocked out by Tyson Fury last October. He pondered retirement after the devastating loss, but announced last week that will continue his career in the ring.
There are several exciting matchups to make for the feared knockout artist, but Queensbury Promotions boss Frank Warren thinks Wilder should fight Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce. The unbeaten 36-year-old is pencilled in to fight on July 2, but has no confirmed opponent yet.
“He was in gruelling fights with Tyson [Fury]. The last one was a classic," Warren said of Wilder to iFL TV. "When you talk about the best fights of the last 20 years, that fight [Fury-Wilder III] certainly is one of them,”
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"I don’t know what he’s got left…. he’s a dangerous man and he can punch, ask Tyson. So if he’s got something to give, good luck to him, we welcome him back. Him and Joe Joyce, what a great fight that would be. Who would you rather see him fight than Joe Joyce?
"You want to see him [Wilder] fight Dillian Whyte? I’d much rather see him fight Joe Joyce; [I] don’t want to see two losers fight, I’d rather see him fight a winner, and he’d be fighting for the number-one spot. You’ve got the best whiskers [in Joyce] who punches himself.”
Joyce turned professional five years ago and has since won 13 consecutive fights. His last outing was a knockout win over Carlos Takam last July, winning the British heavyweight titles against Daniel Dubois in his fight before that.
Wilder lost his WBC title to Fury in their rematch two years ago and suffered the same fight in their trilogy fight. Part of his decision to fight again is because he believes American champions are necessary for boxing to survive.
"One thing about boxing that I've proved is, boxing thrives off of excitement but the excitement of an American champion. Once that dies, so does boxing," he told Blue Blood Sports TV.
"It was living proof, because I'm coming back on popular demand. That's all I've been hearing from high and low. It's just been an amazing feeling, so many people have reached out and told me it's important. Without an American heavyweight boxing really isn't exciting."
