Boxing’s heavyweight juggernaut is eager to re-enter the world title picture, but he must overcome a longtime contender seeking one more marquee victory.
Former WBO Interim champion Joe Joyce takes on former two-time world title challenger Derek “War” Chisora in an all-British showdown on Saturday, July 27, in the 12-round main event at The O2 in London.
Promoted by Queensberry, Joyce-Chisora and additional fight action will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ in the afternoon hours.
Joyce (16-2, 15 KOs) captured a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and entered the paid ranks the following year. He defeated former world champions Bermane Stiverne and Joseph Parker and title challengers Carlos Takam and Bryant Jennings during his ascent up the rankings. The 38-year-old suffered his first pro setbacks in 2023 in consecutive stoppage losses against Zhilei Zhang. Joyce rebounded in March with a 10th-round knockout over Kash Ali. Chisora (34-13, 23 KOs) is a 17-year pro who twice challenged for the WBC crown, once against Vitali Klitschko in February 2012 and again in his third fight with Tyson Fury in December 2022. Chisora returns following a 10th-round stoppage over former world title challenger Gerald Washington last August.
IN OTHER STREAMING ACTION:
Dennis McCann (15-0-1, 8 KOs) and Ionut Baluta (16-4-1, 3 KOs) will battle in a 12-round rematch for the vacant European junior bantamweight title. The two fought to a nine-round technical draw last August after McCann suffered a cut from an accidental headbutt. Baluta has not fought since their first meeting, while McCann defeated Brad Strand in March via unanimous decision.
Ryan Garner (15-0, 8 KOs) will make the second defense of his WBC International junior lightweight belt in a 10-rounder against top-rated contender and fellow unbeaten Archie Sharp (25-0, 9 KOs).
Crawford vs Madrimov
Three-weight world champion and two-division undisputed king Terence “Bud” Crawford looks to conquer a fourth weight class when he takes on WBA junior middleweight world champion Israil Madrimov on Saturday, Aug. 3, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Crawford-Madrimov tops a star-studded bill that includes Top Rank-promoted heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson, who steps up against fellow knockout artist Martin Bakole.
Crawford-Madrimov, Anderson-Bakole, and additional undercard fights will stream LIVE on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) moves up to 154 pounds following last July’s career-defining TKO over Errol Spence Jr. to win the undisputed welterweight championship. The Omaha, Nebraska, native and pound-for-pound superstar has won 11 straight fights by stoppage. Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs), a native of Uzbekistan, captured the WBA 154-pound crown in March with a fifth-round TKO over Magomed Kurbanov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, is the sport’s preeminent heavyweight up-and-comer. He bested former world champion Charles Martin by decision last July, stopped Andriy Rudenko in five rounds the following month, and returned in April with a one-sided unanimous decision over Ryad Merhy. Bakole (20-1, 15 KOs) has won nine straight fights and made a splash on the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou bill last October, weighing in at a massive 299.5 pounds and dispatching former title challenger Carlos Takam in four rounds.
The Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV will also feature:
WBA 140-pound champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs) making his first world title defense against Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs).
Former unified heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22 KOs) returning from an almost two-year layoff to fight Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs).
Cuban standout David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs), winner of seven straight by stoppage, going for number eight in a 12-rounder at light heavyweight against former world title challenger Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs).
Cuban Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO) seeks to continue his rapid ascension up the lightweight rankings against battle-tested Mexican puncher Antonio Moran (30-6-1, 21 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
