London heavyweights Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora are set to headline at The O2 on July 27, with "The Juggernaut" facing "War" in a long-anticipated domestic showdown, broadcast live on TNT Sports. This clash has been in the making for years, with Joyce calling out Chisora, formerly known as Delboy, since 2019.
Joyce (16-2, 15 KOs) is looking to bounce back from two consecutive WBO interim title losses to Zhilei Zhang. He recently secured a KO win against Kash Ali, but his performance left much to be desired. At 38, Joyce's legendary durability seems compromised, casting doubt on his future title aspirations in a division dominated by the likes of Usyk and Fury.
Chisora (34-13, 23 KOs), a two-time world title challenger, rebounded from a stoppage defeat to Tyson Fury in late 2022 with a decision victory over Gerald Washington. Despite turning 40 last November and losing four of his last six fights, Chisora remains a formidable opponent.
On paper, Joyce should have the advantage over the battle-worn Chisora. However, with both fighters showing signs of wear, the outcome is far from certain.
The co-main event features British super bantamweight champion Dennis McCann (15-0-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch against Romanian spoiler Ionut Baluta (16-4-1, 3 KOs). Baluta, known for causing upsets in the UK boxing scene, fought McCann to a technical draw last August.
Additionally, newly signed Aadam Hamed (1-0, 1 KO), son of the legendary Naseem Hamed, will also see action, adding further intrigue to an already exciting card.