Fight Preview: Joyce vs Takam
Photo: World Boxing News
Undefeated contender Joe Joyce (12-0, 11KOs) will look to solidify a world title shot as he faces former title challenger Carlos Takam (39-5-1, 28KOs) on Saturday, July 24 in a clash of two titans.
The event takes place at the SSE Arena in London, England and will be broadcast live on BT Sport. This will be a 12-round bout in the heavyweight division.
Joyce will be defending the WBC Silver and WBO International titles in this fight and with the goal of being next in line for a world title shot..
Joyce is ranked at number 10 on The Ring Magazine’s heavyweight ratings and Takam is currently on a 4-fight win streak.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Joyce is a massive -1000 betting favorite and Takam is the betting underdog at +625.
For Joyce, it will be his first fight since winning the WBC Silver and WBO International belts in November 2020. His last fight saw him stop Daniel Dubois in the 10th round.
Joyce has serious leather in both hands that carries over into every round and that is complemented with setup combos and a strong lead jab.
Joyce relies on his irregular movement to push the tempo in his favor. Joyce’s defense is underrated, and he puts emphasis on staying out of range of his opponent.
With a 91% finishing rate, Joyce has the power to stop the fight in any round.
For Takam, this will be his first fight since July 2020. In his last fight, he defeated Jerry Forrest by unanimous decision.
Takam will have the speed advantage and has an aggressive style that could disrupt the slow, methodical gameplan of Joyce. He fights pushing forward but his movement is limited.
What Takam lacks in polish, he makes up for in aggression. That aggression could be his biggest strength going into the fight.
This fight is more of a tune-up for Joyce. Joyce is currently a rising star in the heavyweight division and a victory could put him in line to fight Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury. Joyce brings new blood to the division and another boxer out of the United Kingdom.
As for Takam, this could be his last chance to become a title contender. At 40-years-old there are not many years left for him at the top.
To watch Joyce vs Takam, tune in Saturday, July 24 on BT Sport at 1pm EST.