By Geno McGahee
British heavyweight hopeful, Joe Joyce, 10-0, 9 KO’s, defeated former heavyweight title challenger, Bryant Jennings, 24-4, 14 KO’s, by unanimous decision by scores of 118-108, 117-110, 115-110.
In the opening round, Jennings hurt Joyce with a left hook to the body but wasn’t able to capitalize. Joyce kept outpunching Jennings down the stretch, but the more effective punches were being landed by Jennings when he decided to throw. Throughout the fight, Joyce used his shoulder to push Jennings back, leading to several warnings. Jennings would be deducted a point for a low blow after not so many warnings, suggesting some home cooking going on.
In the end, Joyce won the fight, but it wasn’t a runaway, and it’s hard to imagine him competing against the elite fighters of the heavyweight division. He doesn’t have the punch or the defense to deal with the big-punching aggressive talent at the top of the division. He may be taking on the British heavyweight champion, Daniel Dubois, 12-0, 11 KO’s, in his next fight and that will be a serious test for him. Dubois has a huge punch and will not stay in a holding pattern like Jennings did.
