Highly-rated heavyweights Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker have managed to salvage a deal to collide in the fall after a summer clash fell apart.
Joyce will take on former world champion Parker on 24 September at the AO Arena in Manchester exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office, promoted by Frank Warren for Queensberry Promotions in association with BOXXER.
Joyce vs Parker
The collision is between number one and two in the WBO rankings. As well as being rated at No.2 and No.3 by the WBC, it will represent a shootout to determine the mandatory challenger for the winner of the upcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.
Joyce, 14-0 (13 KOs), holds the WBO International, WBC Silver, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. He recently relinquished the British.
The 36-year-old was last in action at the OVO Arena, Wembley, in July, emphatically defeating Christian Hammer via a fourth-round stoppage.
A wrist injury kept the Putney man out of action for the first part of this year.
Rated
Former WBO world champion Parker, 30-2 (21 KOs), won the title in 2016 with a points victory over Andy Ruiz in Auckland.
He successfully defended against Razvan Cojanu and Hughie Fury. Parker lost for the first time in a unification battle with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in March 2018.
The 30-year-old is currently on a six-fight winning streak. He scored a points loss to Dillian Whyte in July 2018. The run included successive victories over Dereck Chisora, both in Manchester.
Fans can look forward to an array of established and up-and-coming Queensberry talent on display. The ‘Nowhere to Run’ undercard will get confirmed in the coming weeks.
Frank Warren deal
A relieved Frank Warren said: “It is one the fans want to see, so I am delighted to be taking this blockbuster fight to Manchester, the biggest indoor arena in the country, which we want to see packed to the rafters.
Ben Shalom, initially criticized by Warren for signing Parker when a Joyce deal was in place, stated: “The fans have waited for this one, and so has Joseph.
“It gives him the perfect opportunity to realize his world title ambitions.
“He has rightly earned a reputation as one of the most respected heavyweight fighters on the planet. And I am confident he will soon become a world champion again.
“He is looking in great shape. Thanks to the hard work and dedication he puts in at the gym.
“Joe Joyce might be ranked No.1 by the WBO. But he is seriously in for the toughest night of his career.”
Tickets for Joyce vs Parker – ‘Nowhere to Run’ – the heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Joe Parker – are priced from £40. They will go on sale at noon on Tuesday, 9 August, exclusively from Ticketmaster.co.uk.
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