Heavyweight WBO fight between Joseph Parker and Joe Joyce will be DELAYED until September… with the New Zealander’s trainer Andy Lee unavailable for original date in July
- Joseph Parker and Joe Joyce were due to meet this summer, but it is now delayed
- Parker’s trainer Andy Lee is unavailable for that date due to his wife’s pregnancy
- The two heavyweights are now set to meet in September instead of this summer
The showdown between Joseph Parker and Joe Joyce has been forced to be delayed until September rather than originally planned July date.
The fight has now been pushed back due to Parker’s trainer Andy Lee not being available for the contest.
Lee’s wife will be having a baby in July, which derailed the original plans for the Parker vs. Joyce fight to take place in that month.
The fight between Joseph Parker and Joe Joyce has been forced to be delayed until September
Promoter Frank Warren told IFLTV: ‘There was a problem: Joe Parker can’t fight because his trainer Andy Lee’s wife has a baby due apparently on the week of the fight, so he can’t train.’
Joyce, meanwhile, is undefeated in his 13-fight career and recently claimed impressive wins over Carlos Takam and Daniel Dubois.
The 36-year-old is expected to take on another fight in the meantime while they continue the plan the Parker v Joyce fight.
‘We’ve had to push it back now to September, but in the meantime, Joe will be out.
‘We’re looking at a couple of opponents for him. Hopefully, we’ll have that nailed down in the next 24/48 hours and announce that for July 2. Providing our man wins, then we’re on.’
Both men are on the cusp of potential world-title opportunities; with Joyce currently ranked as the WBO’s No 1 contender and Parker at No 2.
The winner of their bout could receive a mandatory shot at WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk, who also holds the WBA ‘Super’ and IBF straps, at some point over the next year.
The winner of Parker and Joyce’s battle could meet unified champion Oleksandr Usyk next
Before Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte’s battle at Wembley for the WBC championship, promoter Frank Warren announced Parker and Joyce’s clash, which he expected at the time to happen in July.
‘These two giants are going to fight each other to see who’s the best giant,’ Warren said on BT Sport.
‘This could be a great fight between the two of them; we’re looking to put it on at some point in July.’
Parker, who previously held the WBO title for two years, came unstuck when he met unified champion Anthony Joshua in 2018 and then suffered defeat against Whyte later that year.
The New Zealand fighter has since rebuilt with six straight victories, nevertheless, including a pair of wins over Dereck Chisora.
Parker, the ex-WBO champion, has rebuilt after back-to-back losses to record six straight wins