The AO Arena in Manchester hosts an important heavyweight showdown this Saturday night, as Joe Joyce takes on former WBO champion Joseph Parker, in a twelve rounder for the interim WBO title. The pair are ranked at one and two with the organisation respectively.
BT Sport Box Office televises Joyce vs Parker, live in the UK.
Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs) won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and has been near flawless in his professional campaign to date.
After putting decent names on his record such as Bermane Stiverne (TKO6), Alexander Ustinov (TKO3) and Bryant Jennings UD12), the 37-year-old began as an underdog against Daniel Dubois in November 2020.
The ‘Juggernaut’ was excellent on the night though, taking British, Commonwealth, European, and a host of ranking-building titles with a tenth round knockout win.
Since that night, the Putney native has stopped Carlos Takam in six rounds, and in his most recent outing, he halted Christian Hammer in four in July. He has shown he can be easily hit though, and the German landed plenty of clean shots.
Parker (30-2, 21 KOs) became world champion in 2016 with a majority nod over Andy Ruiz Jr, and after two defences, he lost on the cards to Anthony Joshua in an attempt to unify.
Four months later the 30-year-old New Zealander was outscored by Dillian Whyte in a drama-filled affair, and although he has won six straight since, he has looked a fading force.
Last year saw a pair of meetings with Derek Chisora, that put more miles on the clock, although he did take two wins over the Finchley man.
Prediction: Joyce may have a leaky defence at times, but he carries power, which so far has more than been an equaliser in his pro career.
Parker hasn’t looked the same since the Joshua and Whyte defeats, but still carries a threat, and I expect him to trouble Joyce early on. Once Joyce gets through the first half, he should take over to record a bruising win on the scorecards.
Serrano returns
The undercard sees a wealth of gold at stake. Amanda Serrano (42-2-1, 30 KOs) lost in a thriller to Katie Taylor for the undisputed world lightweight title in her last outing, and the Puerto Rican returns to featherweight looking to add to her collection of belts.
Serrano is the WBC, WBA and IBO champion, and she takes on unbeaten IBF titlist, Sarah Mahfoud (11-0, 3 KOs).
’The Real Deal’ is an elite level operator, and Mahfoud hasn’t faced anyone remotely near that platform.
The Dane won the interim IBF crown in February 2020, and was upgraded to full champion, but has only fought once since, in April this year, outscoring Nina Meinke in Copenhagen.
Prediction: Serrano should take this one clearly on the cards.
Cacace clashes with Magnesi
Anthony Cacace (19-1, 7 KOs) makes a first appearance of 2022, and the Northern Irishman can score a points win to take the IBO super featherweight title from Italy’s Michael Magnesi (21-0, 13 KOs).
Essuman defends British & Commonwealth titles
Ekow Essuman (17-0, 7 KOs) makes a third defence of the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles, and ‘The Engine’ can halt Samuel Antwi (14-1, 6 KOs) via a mid to late stoppage.
Heaney faces Flatley
Nathan Heaney (15-0, 6 KOs) will yet again bring an army of supporters from Stoke-on-Trent, but I have a sneaky feeling that he may be upset by Bolton’s Jack Flatley (19-2-1, 4 KOs) in the second defence of his IBO International middleweight title.
Flatley is a former English champion, and a solid operator.
Prediction: I favour him to take a points win.
Heffron battles Bulacio
British, Commonwealth and IBF European super middleweight champion Mark Heffron (28-2-1, 22 KOs) ticks over with an eight rounder against Martin Ezequiel Bulacio (10-6, 7 KOs).
The Argentine is durable, and has been near the distance on the two occasions he has been stopped.
Prediction: Heffron should bank a wide points victory.
Remaining Undercard
Raven Chapman (3-0, 2 KOs) goes for her first professional title, and she can claim the vacant WBC International featherweight title with a win over the eight round distance against former world champion, Jorgelina Guanini (10-4-2, 1 KO).
James Heneghan (7-0) can remain unbeaten with a six round points win at middleweight over Rod Douglas Jr (3-4), who has only been halted by Hamzah Sheeraz.
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At lightweight, Callum Thompson (4-0, 1 KO) should also stay perfect, and can win early in his four rounder against Delmar Thomas (5-2, 2 KOs), and at super lightweight, Amaar Akbar (3-0) may need all four rounds to see off Karlo Wallace (0-2).
