Should Joe Joyce Retire?

Joe Joyce is reportedly in contention to rematch Tony Yoka, but should he retire? 

Joyce is on a terrible run of form, as he is no longer the same fighter who was once the WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion. His decline began when he suffered two knockout defeats to Zhilei Zhang. He was stopped in devastating fashion in both fights, as his chin was no longer durable. Joyce’s ability to walk through his opponents and take shots earned him the nickname ‘The Juggernaut.’ 

There is talk of a rematch with Yoka. They faced off in 2016 at the Olympics, as Yoka secured a decision win to pick up the Olympic Gold medal in their super heavyweight final. Yoka is capable of stopping his opponents. He has 14 wins, 13 of which are by knockout. He defeated Arslan Yallyev in his last fight to secure his third win in a row. However, there is an argument that Joyce should retire. 

Joyce’s Future

Joyce is no closer to securing a heavyweight title, meaning he must question his reasons for fighting. Joyce is currently 39-year-old, as he will turn 40 in September. He has been a professional boxer since 2017, which is late for most boxers. Joyce’s fighting style also does not help him, as he does not possess elite footwork to avoid getting dropped like he has recently. 

Boxing is also a dangerous sport where fighters risk staying for too long. CTE is a problem that plagues fighters once they retire. This impacts their cognitive functions after taking repeated blows to the head. Dereck Chisora has raised worries over this, while Joyce has a similar fighting style. Joyce has earned enough money from the sport to retire, meaning there is no reason to continue with the risk. 

“Everyone gets behind a statement, like ‘oh his chin’ or I’ve got CTE, all this crap. I’ve still got my wits about me, I still enjoy myself and there’s still plenty of good fights out there,” Joyce stated

Joyce will also struggle to attract promoters if he keeps coming up short. He does not want to enter a position where he is considered a journeyman, or someone who is seen as a gatekeeper for bigger fights. That will reduce his ability to secure bigger purses, putting him in a weaker position to negotiate. Joyce must weigh-up the risks moving forward.