It wasn’t that long ago that the fight between Joe Joyce and Diontay Wilder was presented as the epitome of immovable materiality meeting irresistible power. At the time, the expectation among boxing fans was that one day Joyce would represent the A true test of Wilder’s power. And one day Wilder will represent a true test of Joyce’s durability. It was a battle that many people wanted to see and one that held quite a bit of mystery and intrigue.
Now, though, as we enter 2025, all questions have been answered about both Joyce and Wilder, and their paths never even crossed. Now, thanks to the work of Zhilei Zhang and others, we know the limits of The two heavyweights mentioned above and more than that Where do they stand at this juncture in their careers?
Both nearing 40, there’s a chance this year will be their last game. There is also a chance that this will be the deadliest year yet for Joyce and Wilder. If only because they showed some weaknesses towards the end. This indicates that they have entered the land of prey. Don’t worry anymore. Joyce and Wilder have emerged as new heavyweight names they may be targeting to boost their fame and confidence.
In other words, their roles changed. and within this new role They must find humility. They will continue to receive money. Which is reason enough to suck it up and go again. As the couple aims to do in the next few months. Joyce’s next fight will take place on March 1 in Bournemouth, England, it was announced yesterday. While Wilder will He will apparently return to the ring in April.
Joyce’s slides, though, were hardly shocking. But it was shocking because of its speed. One minute he was emphatically defeating Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, two men fighting for the IBF heavyweight title in February, and the next Joyce was stopped not just once by Zhilei Zhang. But twice And to make matters worse, he was stopped by a 40-year-old man, Derek Chisora. Joyce suddenly looked his age. Suddenly, the punch he threw out had a noticeable effect on both of his legs and the light in his eyes.
It remains to be seen whether the “leaders” will now be able to give their final cheers. But so far, signs suggest that is unlikely. His only win since defeating Joseph. Parker’s September 2022 stoppage of Khas Ali was 10 rounds, and overall he’s lost three of his last four fights. Joyce will turn 40 in September. And to be honest, I’ve been fighting like a 40-year-old for a while now. His style is hardly conducive to longevity. Considering how many fights he’s had in his 19-fight career, each of those fights has been Although they often come back with interest. But it also registers and takes away something from Joyce’s defiance and his ability to defy logic.
This is why the next fight in March is so important. Whichever opponent they choose, the 16-3 (15-year-old) Joyce really needs to show something at Bournemouth. And he needs to ease the concerns of those who believe he shouldn’t be anywhere near this stage in his life. Of course, it’s too much to expect a guy like Joyce to change his style at age 39, but at the very least there needs to be a sign that he has more to offer. And now you can accept your limitations and protect yourself from predators.
That might mean knowing his place in the heavyweight pecking order and maintaining his ambitions, however, one could argue that his fight with Chisora in July was an example of this and The fact that Joyce was unable to win that fight was probably an indication that his days as a high-profile heavyweight competitor were over.
As for Wilder, as his name suggests There will still be big opportunities in the financial space. and any effort whatever is driving towards them It is fueled by the adage that the last thing a fighter loses is their punch. Which is true or not. It is enough to perpetuate this American misunderstanding. And he is guaranteed to be the last person to believe that a change in fortunes is possible in 2025.
Meanwhile The rest of us will continue to watch his fight through our fingers. We will remind ourselves that he has lost four of his last five matches. with three defeats not far behind. And this year he will be 40 years old, just like Joyce. His power, which is still very much there, could still end a fight that Wilder was about to lose. But one thing that cannot be done is turn back time. Wilder’s power simply could not return to him all that he had lost in both momentum and intimidation. Now you see that the opponent entered the ring with Wilder and not only knew how to survive and beat him. but also know expect This will happen, for example: Joseph Parker has no problem running his business and avoiding Wilder’s right-hand man when they meet in 2023, although many are predicting his demise. Anyway Similarly, Zhilei Zhang approached his fight with Wilder last June with almost disdain. There was no doubt about Parker’s success and the belief that he would get better and stop Wilder, which he did.
At the end of the battle between Zhang and Wilder, a sad and hopeless figure disappeared. And we wonder if we’ll ever see him in the ring again. As a fighter, he’ll be the first to feel his decline. Even if you’re the last person to admit it. And he will realize his motivation for continuing now. After all, Wilder is not a man who ignores the dangers of boxing. As boxing’s most feared fighter for over a decade He had seen the devastation and damage it had done to other men. And knows that the same thing can always be done to him. Especially at a time when he had never been weak or targeted before.
Not only that, but remember that Wilder also spoke emotionally about Prichard Colon’s tragic story after Robert Helenius’ terrifying one-punch fight in 2022 “ I am always worried about every fighter,” he told Night. “This is not a sport. Sports is what you play. You don’t play this. We risk our lives for your entertainment.
“We’ve seen what happened. Look at Colon. This guy doesn’t have any children. You don’t understand what we’ve been through. I don’t know him like that. But I will always be our supporter. This man will never know what it feels like to be someone’s father. That is the most precious thing in the world. being someone’s father He will never have the chance to live again because he has entered the ring to support his family. Now his family has to take care of him for the rest of his life.”
Since he expressed his compassion and concern in the public arena, Wilder, 43-3-1 (42), has not won another fight. Some might argue that he should be rooting for Helenius to win. Because he obviously lost something that night as well.
