BRITISH heavyweight boxer Joe Joyce has called out former world champion Anthony Joshua to a bout as the two engaged in a Twitter spat.
Joshua lost his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation and International Boxing Federation titles to Oleksandr Usyk last October.
A rematch was on the cards but it has been shelved for now as Usyk is in his native Ukraine fighting against Russia’s invading army.
Joshua is on the lookout for an interim fight but when Joyce was suggested, the Nigerian-British superstar dismissed the prospect contemptuously.
Joyce then labelled Joshua ‘a glass cannon’ – after the former world champion claimed he would stop him in one round.
Joyce and Swede Otto Wallin were mentioned on Twitter as potential contenders to face Joshua, but Joshua pointed out he had already fought Joyce in the amateur ranks in 2011 – with the fight being waved off in the first round – and the Nigerian claimed the same would happen again.
“I’ve shared this ring with most people you see in the heavyweight division today,” Joshua initially posted last week. “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.”
Joyce was obviously not amused by Joshua’s bold prediction and accused him of ‘having a meltdown’, goading him about losing his world titles to Usyk.
“Anthony Joshua you 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,” Joyce wrote.
Joshua replied to Joyce by simply writing: “It took you five days to come up with this,” but the heavyweight contender hit back by claiming Joshua had ‘ducked’ a challenge to fight him this year.
“By the way I told you five days ago let’s get it on my yout! Check your Twitter. You ducked it,” wrote Joyce.
Joshua responded to one post that called for a fight with Joyce, saying ‘do you really think I wouldn’t fight Joe Joyce?’.
Joyce, who also has Nigerian heritage with his mother from the country, then threw down the gauntlet, claiming he would face Joshua in their motherland.
“Let’s Go, My Yout! Let’s do it in Nigeria!” he wrote before posting a mock-up picture of himself next to Joshua under the Wembley Stadium arch and writing: “Two GB Lions in an all British Heavyweight Showdown! This fight would be massive. I’m highly ranked and undefeated. Let’s Get It!”
While 32-year-old Joshua is the more experienced and accomplished of the two having won 24 of his 26 fights and held world titles, 36-year-old Joyce is also a top fighter with a record of 13 fights unbeaten, 12 by knockout.
