Joe Joyce Announces March Return, Remains Silent on Dillian Whyte Matchup

Heavyweight boxer Joe Joyce has confirmed his return to the ring on March 1 but remained tight-lipped about a potential fight with Dillian Whyte, despite ongoing speculation.

The 39-year-old Joyce, with a record of 16-3 (15 KOs), was present at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena to witness Derek Chisora’s victory over Otto Wallin. Speaking to the press afterwards, Joyce praised the 41-year-old Chisora’s third consecutive win since his loss to Tyson Fury in 2022.

“It was an exciting match. I’m thrilled to be here; it’s motivating. This arena is fantastic, with great support from Manchester, and I’m looking forward to competing here very soon,” Joyce commented.

Chisora, now 36-13 (23 KOs), overcame a severe cut to knock down his Swedish opponent twice before securing a points victory in his 49th professional fight. Following the match, Chisora expressed his desire to face either Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua, or Oleksandr Usyk for his 50th and final bout.

Joyce spoke admiringly of Chisora’s performance, stating, “You know what to expect from him. He put on a great show, throwing powerful punches and taking the fight to his opponent.”

Joyce’s own career needs rejuvenation, having lost three of his last four fights, with a win over Kash Ali being his only success since defeating Joseph Parker in September 2022. Despite recent setbacks, ‘The Juggernaut’ is not considering retirement, even though his recent performances have not matched the level he displayed against Parker.

Photographs of Joyce and Dillian Whyte, 31-3 (21 KOs), together at the event fueled rumors about a potential matchup between the two on an upcoming Queensberry card in April.

When asked about facing Whyte, Joyce remained evasive, saying, “No comment. We’ll see what happens. It would be an interesting fight. For now, I’m focusing on my upcoming fight on March 1 and preparing for that.”