WITH rumours of a heavyweight clash between Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce gathering pace, Boxing News has considered what their mooted spectacle could deliver.
In short, the answer is very little. While a matchup between the two mountainous sluggers may have carried more weight several years ago, a string of uninspiring performances from both fighters has removed much of the allure from what could have been an enthralling yet technically limited battle.
Whyte, 31-3 (21 KOs), enjoyed a brief purple patch back in 2018, utilising his natural aggression and physical advantages to secure notable victories over Lucas Browne, Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora.
But since then, the 36-year-old has shown few signs of being the formidable contender that many once thought he was.
His majority decision victory over Jermaine Franklin Jr back in 2022, for instance, treated fans to a pedestrian display – void of any real moments to write home about – through 12 tedious rounds.
More than that, Whyte’s last performance against Ebenezer Tetteh – a fighter best known for getting knocked out by Daniel Dubois – saw ‘The Body Snatcher’ grow increasingly fatigued after just a few rounds.
And while, of course, he has never possessed the defensive slickness of a Pernell Whitaker or Willie Pep, Whyte’s rather unorthodox guard nonetheless represents another point of concern.
As for Joyce, 16-3 (15 KOs), it would appear that his two devastating stoppage defeats to Zhilei Zhang in 2023 have emphatically removed the mystique attached to his remarkable durability.
Before losing to Zhang, his performances against Dubois, Parker and Carlos Takam were indeed mightily impressive, with ‘The Juggernaut’ establishing himself as a fearsome but defensively vulnerable operator.
But now, when considering his last outing against Chisora, too, it is fair to say that the 39-year-old no longer projects the same ferocious aura.
And so, if Whyte-Joyce is, in fact, the main event for Frank Warren’s first show on DAZN, then one can only hope to see both fighters leave the ring safely.
The signs of deterioration they have both shown in recent years have, after all, significantly reduced the chances of an explosive finish.
