Joe Joyce Knocks Out Joseph Parker In 11th Round, Becomes Mandatory To Oleksandr Usyk
Joe Joyce has done it again.
Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) took out former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (30-3, 21 KOs) in the 11th round with just over a minute left. With the win, Joyce became the WBO’s interim heavyweight champion and has now become the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s belt.
THE JUGGERNAUT 😤
Joe Joyce gets the knockout victory in te 11th round. #JoyceParker pic.twitter.com/suZ0QGcvQY
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) September 24, 2022
Joyce took control of the bout from the beginning.
The Londoner kept hurting Parker with his jab and heavy blows that eventually wore him down.
Parker had a few highlights, but Joyce was able to take the hits and keep throwing his own.
According to CompuBox, Joyce landed over 42 percent of his power punches – 202 overall – compared to Parker’s 124.
Prior to Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, Parker was never knocked out in his career.
At the time of the stoppage, Joyce was leading the judges’ scorecards by five, three and two points.
Though Joyce is now the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBO belt, it doesn’t guarantee an immediate shot since Usyk is looking for fights against WBC champion Tyson Fury and former champion Deontay Wilder, but it does add him into the mix.