JOE JOYCE has beaten Carlos Takam in a bruising heavyweight contest at Wembley Arena.
The Brit retains his unbeaten pro record after seeing off the game Frenchman, with the referee calling a halt in the sixth round.
- TV channel: BT Sport 1
- Live stream FREE: BT Sport App/ee customers watch free
- Live results: Joe Joyce BEATS Carlos Takam (TKO R6)
- Hamzah Sheeraz BEATS Ezequiel Gurria (TKO R5)
- Sam Noakes BEATS Naeem Ali (TKO R2)
- Ekow Essuman BEATS Chris Jenkins (KO R8)
Follow every punch from this heavyweight clash with our live blog below…
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NOT IMPRESSED
Seems a few boxing fans weren’t too happy with what they saw tonight…
JOYCE DELIGHT – TAKAM FUMES
Credit: Reuters FRANK WARREN SPEAKS
“If you are taking shots and not giving anything back it’s the right decision.
“Both fighters gave everything, it was terrific value for money.
“He is the mandatory challenger. Provided AJ wins and Tyson [Fury] wins, I think that fight will happen, and then he [Joyce] is next.”
JOE JOYCE SPEAKS
“He is a tough African lion, all credit to him, it was a good fight and he hit me with some good shots.
“I had to take my opportunity when I saw it.
“He hurt me mildly, but I am pretty tough and weathered the storm.
“I used the sweet science of boxing to get the win.
“What I want is AJ or Usyk.”
TAYLOR CRITICAL
Undisputed light-welterweight king Josh Taylor describes it as the ‘worst I’ve seen of Joe Joyce’.
The Scot says Joyce was being hit far too easily, and that he ‘needs to go back to the gym and work on a lot’ before he thinks about fighting the likes of Anthony Joshua.
JOYCE VS JOSHUA NEXT?
So, Joe Joyce stops Carlos Takam in the sixth round to make himself WBO mandatory challenger.
That belt is of course held by Anthony Joshua – who defends it against Oleksandr Usyk in September.
He did say he would win in the sixth pre-fight…
TAKAM IS ABSOLUTELY FUMING
The Frenchman is furious with the referee for the sixth-round stoppage.
He never went down – but was throwing nothing back and was unsteady on his feet.
There will be many who will say it was an early stoppage…
ROUND SIX – IT’S ALL OVER – JOYCE WINS BY KO
WHAT A START FROM JOYCE. How did Takam stay on his feet there?
But it doesn’t last much longer. A continued assault and referee Steve Gray stops the fight!
ROUND FIVE
Takam looks like he is taking a breather – until he hammers in a swinging left hand.
But Joyce is not put off, and continues coming forward.
Takam is noticeably slower – Joyce is slowing him down but not using his jab to sag him further.
ROUND FOUR
Both men throwing absolute weapons here, heads rocking all over the place, but Joyce seems confident he can take what Takam can give.
Lovely shot through the middle from Takam, bit lazy from Joyce.
But the Brit responds with a crunching body shot. And another with 45 seconds to go that had Takam hunched over a bit.
TAKAM NOT MESSING AROUND
Credit: Reuters ROUND THREE
Takam is bouncy on his feet, but you wouldn’t think the 40-year-old can continue that.
Beautiful body shot from Joyce, the crowd whoop with delight.
Joyce seemingly trying to walk through Takam who continues throwing heavy artillery here.
But Joyce lands a beauty on the button just before the bell sounds. His first round of the night for us.
ROUND TWO
Joyce’s jabs look measured, but perhaps a little slow.
Takam again tries to throw that big right, but Joyce deflects.
But the Frenchman lands there with another big one, gets the crowd going at least.
Slow start from Joyce here. He is caught be two bangers late on that seal the round for Takam.
JOE THE JUGGERNAUT
Credit: Reuters DING DING, ROUND 1
Joyce, as expected, tries to get his jab going.
Takam lands a heavy right that hits the pads, Joyce responds with a firm hook of his won.
The Frenchman is relying on landing a big overhand already. Joyce needs to be careful.
TAKAM READY TO SEIZE HIS CHANCE
Credit: PA HERE COMES THE JUGGERNAUT
6ft 6in beast Joe Joyce is making his way to the ring.
WOW.
He is wearing the strangest of headpieces. A red, metal helmet.
Erm… it is of COURSE The Juggernaut from the X-Men.
TAKAM IS OUT FIRST
And the Frenchman is coming out to the John Cena anthem The Time Is Now!
The 40-year-old is looking in confident mood – he fancies this.
SHEERAZ’S SAKA TRIBUTE
Credit: BT Sport Credit: BT Sport UP NEXT – THE BIG ONE!
Joe Joyce will be making his way out shortly to fight Carlos Takam.
Arguably it is the Brit’s biggest test of his fledgling pro career so far.
If he wins, Joyce will be the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s WBO title.
AJ lays that on the line against Oleksandr Usyk in September.
AND NOW IT’S ALL OVER – SHEERAZ STOPS GURRIA!
It was a stunning finish there for Sheeraz, Gurria was clearly hurt from some rasping body shots on the first knockdown.
Then a variety of punches saw the Spaniard dropped again before the ref stopped the fight.
GURRIA GOES DOWN!
A beautiful combination from Sheeraz sees the Spaniard sink to the canvas.
It didn’t look like he was going to get up but he managed it…. for now
SHEERAZ MOTORING AHEAD
Four rounds down and all four for Sheeraz surely here.
He is just far too rangy for a subdued Gurria so far.
TWO ROUNDS DOWN
Nice opener by Sheeraz as he tries to dominate Gurria with his jab.
The work continues into the second, with Sheeraz looking huge compared to his Spanish opponent.
Gurria already seems a bit marked on his face.
TRIBUTE TO SAKA
Hamza Sheeraz comes out for the fight wearing an Arsenal shirt with ‘Saka’ on the back.
That’s in reference to Bukayo Saka, who received vile racist abuse after missing a penalty for England in their shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
