JOE JOYCE has revealed his three-fight hitlist – and it does NOT include Oleksandr Usyk.
The 2016 Olympic silver medallist returns on Saturday against China’s Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box.
Joyce is the WBO interim champion and mandatory for Usyk’s belt – meaning he is guaranteed a title shot.
The Ukrainian and Tyson Fury were set to unify all four world titles for the first time in heavyweight history.
But talks for the historic undisputed decider broke down amid a row over financials for a potential rematch.
It leaves Joyce ready to step in and face Fury himself, or Deontay Wilder, 37, and Anthony Joshua, 33.
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He told BBC Sport: “Fury said he wants to fight me, so I can fight him after the Usyk fight. Then for bants I can fight Joshua or Wilder.”
Joyce, 37, knocked out Joseph Parker, 31, in September to regain his position in pole for the WBO belt.
But with Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, still expected to meet in a title unification this year, the contender must keep busy.
And he will do so against fellow Olympian Zhang, 39, who was beaten in a disputed decision by Filip Hrgovic, 30, in August.
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Joyce said: “I don’t want to go 12 rounds with Zhang.
“He narrowly missed out on the victory against Hrgovic. It could have gone either way, he really pushed hard to the end there.
“He landed good shots and had him in trouble so I thought why not give him a chance?
“Considering he’s a southpaw as well, at a good level, it leads me nicely on to fighting a Usyk or a Fury.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
