Reflections - The uncomfortable case of Joe Joyce

Reflections - Discomfortable viewing

GBN’s Caledonian columnist, Donald C Stewart, reflects on Joe Joyce's tough time at the weekend

The most uncomfortable viewing of the last seven days has not been the point at which Joe Joyce held up his hand and in the 11th round seemed to surrender to the inevitable – Artem Suslenkov was going to beat him. I'm not going to use the Q-word, nor did commentator Andy Clark, rightly so, because neither of us have the right to say that it looked as if Joe Joyce had given up.

The most uncomfortable viewing that I had during the course of the week was watching the TalkSport discussion, which had former boxers Paul Smith, his brother Callum and Jonny Nelson plead the case that Joe Joyce should not be fighting at all.

Way back, Frank Warren, after Joyce was beaten by Filip Hrgović, had said that he needed to go and have a long, hard look at himself. Whatever mirror he has in his house, it seemed to be telling him that he was fit at the age of 40 to go back into the ring and make some kind of statement. He believed he was able to show he belonged in the elite heavyweight ranks again. He believed he could fight for a world title.

No Mas is what Clark, on commentary, suggested this was similar to. I can't do anything but, as usual, agree with him.

In the past, I have written about Danny Williams stuttering to the end of his career, many far better than I have written about Roy Jones Jr. and the way in which he seemed to be unable to give up on his career, and we all have seen and listened to those who have pointed out one former boxer or another suffering because of their careers. Punch drunk is real. Heading to a point where the effects of the sport itself will be seen in gait, speech, and the way in which people conduct themselves was illustrated and discussed. Johnny Nelson spoke of how Joyce may already be showing the effects of a very tough career. He thinks his tough career is beginning to take its toll.

Joyce himself told everyone who would listen that that he had an amazing camp. Under the tutelage of SugarHill Steward, he had managed to convince a top trainer he meant business, but the curtain surely must be being brought down on a man who threatened the heavyweight division with juggernauting through it, but ultimately came up slightly short. That's not to say that he hasn't had a good career – he's a fantastic career though perhaps his appearance in Moscow on the undercard of Murat Gassiev's first WBA defense of his title is an indication of where father time sits.

Gassiev dispatched Peter Kadiru without having to get out of second gear and then came another discomforting sight as Derek Chisora had some sort of bizarre head to head with Gassiev after the fight. Suggesting there's a possibility that the WBA might make Derek Chisora a title challenger or accept that Gassiev can get another run out taking on Chisora caught us all out.

It would be a very fitting end to Chisora's career if instead of rematching Wilder that he slunk under the doorway into the hall of WBA nonsense. Of course, Tony Yoka was unable to shake off the injury that he suffered to face Gassiev and he will feel he is due that chance again.

Of course, Joyce strangely, was not given that chance when Yoka pulled out – did Gassiev's team and the WBA know something?

Joyce was not the only combat sports star coming back after a long layout as Conor McGregor almost five years since he broke his leg fighting Dustin Poirier found himself back in the octagon. Lasting just over a minute when a leaping kick blew out his right knee, Max Holloway stopped him. Surely now he as well as Joyce will have to hang up their gloves. Talk of a McGregor/Mayweather mark II would seem to be joining the same graveyard as the idea of Conor McGregor having an MMA future. Let's both McGregor and Joyce have been incredible servants to their sports. It’s always difficult to say goodbye, but we should all know when it is time.

More articles by Donald C Stewart