Joe Joyce calls out Oleksandr Usyk after knocking out Joseph Parker as Amanda Serrano wins in Manchester

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Joe Joyce urged heavyweight champion Oleksandr Uysk to fight him after becoming the first boxer to knock out Joseph Parker with an emphatic 11th-round victory at the AO Arena in Manchester.

A show of power, resolve and at-times astonishing toughness from both men ended with Joyce detonating the decisive left hook to floor Parker, who bravely tried to wobble to his feet but could not recover.

“What a tough fight,” unbeaten Joyce said after an absorbing, gruelling contest in which his near-constant pressure and willingness to absorb blows from former WBO champion Joseph Parker eventually told.

“I hit him with everything I had – the kitchen sink, the handbag, everything. Body shots – I tried it all but he was still coming and game. I dropped him but it was hard work.”

Before the headline fight, seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano earned a comfortable points victory over Sarah Mahfoud to become the WBO, WBC and IBF featherweight champion.

Juggernaut and Real Deal show class

For all the talk beforehand of Joyce and Parker’s ability to take shuddering shots, their durability and bravery during an all-action contest was still frequently stunning.

When Parker finally connected in the fourth round with an overhand right he had been repeatedly throwing, Joyce took the colossal shot clean and ploughed on – as he did almost throughout the fight while Parker toiled.

The apparent ease with which Joyce can still be hit will worry those calling for him to mix it with reigning world champions, but the precision and composure with which he picked shots and demonstrated patience also stood out, as well as the freshness that left him looking relatively unblemished at the end.

Joyce resisted the urge to rush in on one of the numerous occasions when the tiring Parker swayed against the ropes during the middle rounds, and a gruesome cut above his opponent’s eye became a target for the former Olympic silver medalist’s accurate jab.

Serrano showed she is a fellow specialist in the exacting pressure Joyce enjoys applying, starting briskly against Sarah Mahfoud as the boxing legend repeatedly marched forward during the early rounds.

The feared featherweight appeared to ease off as the fight went on, lowering the pace on her way to a unanimous decision victory that unified the IBF titles with her existing WBO and WBC featherweight belts.

Mahfoud performed creditably in the first defeat of her 12-fight career, rendering the Dane hugely inexperienced in comparison to her storied 46-fight opponent.

The fighter known as ‘The Real Deal’ now wants a rematch with Ireland’s Katie Taylor, who became the first fighter to beat Serrano in more than 10 years courtesy of a split decision win in defence of her lightweight titles when the pair met at Madison Square Garden in April.

Usyk next for Joyce?

At 37, Joyce is in a rush to prove himself against the very best following the 14th knockout of his perfect 15-fight professional career.

The Londoner is the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBO title but it is uncertain when the Ukrainian will fight again, with WBC champion Tyson Fury claiming before Joyce’s win that Usyk has been sent a contract to face him in December.

“Nobody wants to fight Joe Joyce,” former champion Carl Frampton told BT Sport after watching his display. “You fight him because you get told to by the governing bodies – that’s the only reason.”

Usyk and Fury may not agree with that and there is also the prospect of a bout for Joyce against Anthony Joshua, still one of the most high-profile names in boxing despite his two successive defeats to Usyk.

Promoter Frank Warren promised to “move heaven and earth” to help arrange a fight with Usyk and said that Joyce is “firmly in a position” to challenge for a title in the UK.

“It was an amazing heavyweight fight at such a high pace,” said Warren. “He showed why he’s called ‘the Juggernaut.’ I was surprised by how fast it was in the early round.

“Hats off to Joseph Parker – he’s a tough guy, a brave warrior, but we’ve got a new kid on the block here. He’s getting better and better, like a fine wine.”

Warren added that Joyce will be rested until at least February. That would rule out an immediate date with Fury, who insists that he will fight in December irrespective of Usyk or Joshua agreeing terms to fight him.

The Sporting News provided results and highlights from Joyce vs. Parker.

MORE: Clobberin’ Time, Ep. 6: Canelo and GGG’s future, Joyce vs. Parker, and more

Joe Joyce vs Joseph Parker live results, updates

Round 11: Joe Joyce beats Joseph Parker by knockout!

A thunderous left hook from Joyce sends Parker down! He spends six seconds cornered on his back, then unsuccessfully tries to wobble to his feet.

Joyce, who is the first man to knock Parker out, high-fives a young celebrant inside the ring and bounces up and down with joy, looking fresh enough to go another 12. His shorts are hued by Parker’s blood and the best performance of his career earns the 37-year-old victory over a former world champion!

Round 10: Joe Joyce 10-9 Joseph Parker

An even round sees Joyce, as usual, on the front foot for most of it before Parker hurts him with seconds remaining.

Then there’s an entertaining bit of showboating: Joyce steps back and theatrically winds up a haymaker. Parker steps back and hunches forward, determined to show he is ready for more.

Round 9: Joe Joyce 9-10 Joseph Parker

The referee is concerned by Parker’s cut eye and checks in with his corner before the start of the ninth round.

It is a measure of the fatigued-looking Parker’s persistency that he then probably banks a round with some neat punches. This has been an immense effort from both men – you just suspect that Joyce has considerably more in the tank.

Round 8: Joe Joyce 10-9 Joseph Parker

That cut is now a bullseye target for Joyce, reminiscent of the way in which he added precision to injury during his win over Daniel Dubois.

This has been a tight and absorbing fight but the fact that Joyce looks almost unmarked says everything about the state of play and the likely winner.

Round 7: Joe Joyce 10-9 Joseph Parker

Joyce catches Parker with a left hook and resists the chance to race in as Parker wobbles against the ropes, looking somewhat spent.

Another left by Joyce opens up a troubling cut above the left eye of Parker, whose corner can’t wait to place the stool back down and get their man in for treatment. You wouldn’t count him out yet, but he’s blowing hard and taking too much pressure right now.

Round 6: Joe Joyce 10-9 Joseph Parker

Joyce comes racing out for the sixth round, switching beautifully between head and body. A left to the head connects as Parker finds himself up against a barrage on the ropes, then he finds joy with another uppercut.

Parker is plodding, ducking and occasionally chucking. He exchanges a tap of respect with his antagonist at the end of a dominant round for Joyce.

“He’s broken Parker’s heart,” says former heavyweight champion David Haye on BT Sport.

“It got to a point in that last round where Parker was landing clean on the target but he doesn’t have the power. I’ve seen Joyce do this so many times. He’s just warming up. Parker is really struggling.”

Round 5: Joe Joyce 10-9 Joseph Parker

These are tough rounds, concussive body shots taking their toll and slowing both men.

Parker appears to receive a word in his ear about a questionably low blow at one point. Joyce succeeds with an uppercut near the end of the round.

Round 4: Joe Joyce 9-10 Joseph Parker

Parker finally connects with that right overhand! It’s a huge shot – almost certainly enough to take down your average tree – but Joyce takes it, swaying back before moving on.

We knew that these two had concrete chins and we’ve seen that again tonight. Joyce has been on the front foot more and Parker’s conditioning could prove crucial but that shot has to hand the round to the New Zealander.

Round 3: Joe Joyce 10-9 Joseph Parker

There are shades of the devil-may-care relentlessness we saw from Serrano in the preceding bout to Joyce’s approach.

The veteran keeps coming through Parker’s attempts to hurt him, belting in body and head shots from either side and clearly wobbling his target on the ropes on more than one occasion.

Parker then unleashes in the final seconds of the round. His corner react as if he’s delivered a knockout blow, which may owe more to their relief at their fighter following their instructions from the previous intermission.

This is a storming scrap.

Round 2: Joe Joyce 10-9 Joseph Parker

The notable punches – including several body shots – undoubtedly come from Joyce, who appears to be reading that right hand from on high that Parker is desperate to detonate.

“Who’s afraid of work? Nobody,” bloodied Parker’s corner tell him, urging the powerhouse to finish each round strongly because they are likely to remain so close.

Round 1: Joe Joyce 9-10 Joseph Parker

A gripping first round. Parker connects with a right hand over the top beyond the midway point, then looks troubled for a split second as his opponent moves him towards the rope with a decent effort of his own.

Parker looks to keep connecting with that right, having been caught by an early jab from Joyce. You could make the case for either fighter winning the round but a decent body shot from Parker perhaps shaded it for him.

Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker

And now for the main event! Joyce and Parker engage in a final staredown after the visiting fighter is embraced by Fury on his way out.

Joyce is in predominantly white, Parker in black, red and blue shorts. Here we go…

 

 

‘The fans were so cool’

Ever the classy champion, Serrano praises Mahfoud and says “all women are tough” following her points victory.

Serrano pushes the case for becoming undisputed and fighting Katie Taylor. “The fans here tonight were so cool,” she tells BT Sport. “I enjoyed every minute of it.”

‘Daydream Believer’ is playing as we await the entrances of Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker…

Serrano beats Mahfoud (points)

Serrano wins it! The scores on the doors were 99-92, 97-93 and 97-93 – Scotsman Victor Loughlin evidently appreciating the winner’s work more than most.

The hall-of-famer now has the IBF, IBO, WBC, WBO. Given her relatively vast inexperience, Mahfoud deserves a huge amount of admiration.

Round 10: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Another round rolls past with plenty of motioning back-and-forth but little lasting impact to note between these two fighters.

Serrano has almost certainly swept to a points victory thanks to that fast start. Mahfoud caused her more problems than many would have anticipated, though.

The referee applauds both fighters as they embrace.

Round 9: Serrano 9-10 Mahfoud

Mahfoud almost certainly wins this round, fighting some success as she deploys her right hand more against an opponent seemingly content to cruise.

“She’s coming to kill you,” Mahfoud’s corner tell her ahead of the final round, willing her to believe that she can take the knockout win she needs now. “I can do it,” she replies.

Round 8: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Serrano is strolling towards a points victory – the question is whether she will aim for a grandstand finish by recapturing the intensity with which she began this fight.

Round 7: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Without putting Serrano on the back foot for any noticeable passages, Mahfoud looks increasingly like making it to the scorecards now.

Serrano connects with a few shots as she comes forward, looking comfortable in ducking and dodging Mahfoud’s commendably persistent efforts to fire back.

Round 6: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Serrano slows it down and there is a case for her losing that round, Mahfoud landing scoring shots in front of the intrigued Peter Fury, among others visible at ringside.

Is Serrano feeling the effects of stalking her target with such relentless initial speed? You wouldn’t bet on it – she’s still coming forward with menace.

Round 5: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Credit to Mahfoud, who is using her reflexes to stay out of danger as Serrano keeps coming towards her, whistling wicked shots into the air.

You suspect that Serrano senses she can stay on the prowl and end this with one shot at some point. Mahfoud is staying in there but it is hard to see how she can turn the tide.

Round 4: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Serrano marches forward and brings out her left hand more, increasingly turning this into a war of attrition that Mahfoud, perhaps wisely, avoids.

The WBC, WBO and IBO champion gets caught with one shot and a jab or two by Mahfoud but does not seem to care about shipping the odd stinger in her pursuit of pummelling shots of her own.

Round 3: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

“Take a deep breath – you can do it,” Mahfoud’s team tell her as she sits on her stool having enjoyed a marginally more successful third round.

Serrano found success with a body shot and, worryingly for Mahfoud, an effort that landed on that cut to her opponent’s head.

Round 2: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Mahfoud is definitely cut – it’s hard to tell where exactly the blood is coming from but it appears to have been caused by both fighters leaning in and clashing heads as they each tried to land first.

That spurs Serrano on to swing a series of vicious punches that do not connect and work her opponent towards a corner. Mahfoud’s team work on the damage during the interval, but neither rival looks unduly troubled by the opening two rounds.

Round 1: Serrano 10-9 Mahfoud

Mahfoud, in black, has to use all of that alertness she was working with those flashing lights we mentioned she used to tune up with backstage.

It’s a quiet round but Serrano is slightly the busier of the fighters, looking characteristically confident.

Amanda Serrano vs. Sarah Mahfoud

Here we go, then. All of the featherweight belts are on the line as Serrano takes on Mahfoud.

We heard ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis – sure to go down well among many in this city – as Mahfoud took to the ring.

Tion Wayne’s take on La Roux’s ‘In for the Kill’ soundtracked Serrano’s entry to centre stage. The legendary Puerto Rican, who is a seven-weight world champion, is wearing maroon.

Nathan Heaney beats Zack Flatley (points)

Nathan Heaney remains the IBO international middleweight champion – but not in the way he’d have wanted to.

After being cheered into the ring to the strains of ‘Delilah’, the Staffordshire fighter suffered a horrendous cut from a clash of heads.

The scorecards after five rounds declared ‘The Hitman’ the winner. Former heavyweight champion David Haye suggests Heaney’s opponent led with his head in the incident that caused the anti-climatic end to the contest, although it is hard not to feel some sympathy for suitably frustrated Flatley.

Fury “not optimistic” about fighting Usyk or Joshua

“They’ve had the opportunity to agree to this fight for about a month,” Fury says when he is asked by BT Sport about his mooted bout with Usyk or Joshua on December 17.

“They’ve had the contract for about a week. We’ll know more on Monday – the two broadcasters are going to meet.

“I’m sick of setting deadlines; they either want this poxy fight or they don’t. This is the fight I’ve been trying to make since 2017 and I’ve been unsuccessful every time.”

Fury says he will be fighting on that date regardless of what happens with the negotiations.

Anthony Cacace beats Michael Magnesi (split decision)

The brave fighters hug after a brutal bout in which some of the punches would have sent down many a fighter. That was a teak-tough performance by Cacace, who drops to his knees as his win by split decision is announced!

Belfast has a new champion. “It was a good performance,” countryman Frampton tells BT Sport, having sparred with Cacace. “That’s just a wee bit of what he can do.”

Michael Magnesi vs. Anthony Cacace

This is a close-up tear up as Italian IBO super-featherweight champion Magnesi defends his belt and 21-fight unbeaten record against British champion Cacace, a 33-year-old Northern Irishman.

Magnesi has taken some telling shots from Cacace, who is thundering in blows and grimacing as he goes.

Serrano setting up

Serrano is getting ready in her dressing room! Mahfoud is also testing her reflexes via some nifty flashing lights on a table in her inner sanctum. Both fighters are a picture of intensity, as you might expect.

Ekow Essuman beats Samuel Antwi (points)

Antwi’s corner, as is so often and bafflingly the case with mid-fight guidance, get it wrong – Essuman improves his perfect record to 18 wins!

Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear us Apart’ – an anthem particularly beloved in Manchester – rings out. Former champion Carl Frampton agrees with the decision.

Ekow Essuman vs. Samuel Antwi

We’re currently watching unbeaten Nottingham-based British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Ekow Essuman defend his titles against Samuel ‘The Sensation’ Antwi. It’s been an even bout so far between two composed-looking fighters, with Antwi’s corner particularly vocal.

As we approach the end of the fight, Antwi’s corner are confidently informing him that he is six minutes away from victory.

Mark Heffron knocks out Martin Ezequiel Bulacio (round one)

Well then. Few would have predicted five minutes ago that super-middleweight Heffron would be kissing his opponent in due course, but that’s what ‘Kid Dynamite’ is now doing after a barrage of connecting shots forced the referee to end Bulacio’s contest.

Tyson Fury, in what looks like a paint-splattered suit, applauds at ringside!

Raven Chapman beats Jorgelina Guanini (points)

A compelling scrap between Raven Chapman and Jorgelina Guanini ends with Buckinghamshire brawler Chapman as the new WBC International Featherweight champion!

Both boxers traded meaty blows during that contest. And a man who knows all about heavy hitting has just checked in…

Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ coverage of a tantalising evening of boxing!

Let’s catch up with some of the early undercard results first: lightweight Callum ‘The Tank’ Thompson did the business with a third-round knockout of Delmar Thomas, and Liverpool middleweight James Heneghan needed two rounds fewer to record his first professional knockout at the expense of an early night for Rod Douglas Jr.

Super-lightweight Amaar ‘The Prodigy’ Akbar made it four wins out of four in his rookie career by beating Karlo Wallace on points.

When is Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker?

  • Date: Saturday, September 24
  • Start time: 2 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. BST | 4 a.m. AEST 
  • Main event: 5:15 p.m. ET | 10:15 p.m. BST | 7:15 a.m. AEST

Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker will be taking place on Sept. 24. The main card starts around 2 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. BST | 4 a.m. AEST. Joyce and Parker should make their way to the ring around 5:15 p.m. ET | 10:15 p.m. BST | 7:15 a.m. AEST, depending on how long the undercard fights last. 

How to watch Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker

  • ESPN+
  • BT Sport Box Office

In the U.S., Joyce vs. Parker will be shown on ESPN+. 

The Joyce-Parker bout will be shown exclusively on BT Sport Box Office in the U.K.

MORE: Sign up to watch Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker on ESPN+

Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker price: How much does the card cost?

You will need to pay $9.99 a month for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or an annual subscription for $99.99/yr. The Joyce vs. Parker fight won’t be an additional cost to current ESPN+ subscribers. 

Product Prices
ESPN+ Monthly Subscription $9.99/month
ESPN+ Annual Subscription $99.99/year
The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported $13.99/month
The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads $19.99/month

Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker fight card

  • Joe Joyce (c) vs. Joseph Parker (c) for the WBC, Silver, WBO International, and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles 
  • Amanda Serrano (c) vs. Sarah Mahfoud (c) for the IBF, IBO, WBC, and WBO featherweight titles 
  • Michael Magnesi (c) vs. Anthony Cacace for the IBO super-featherweight title 
  • Ekow Essuman (c) vs. Samuel Antwi for the British, IBF European, and Commonwealth welterweight titles 
  • Nathan Heaney vs. Jack Flatley for the IBO International middleweight title 
  • Raven Chapman vs. Jorgelina Guanini for the WBC International featherweight title 
  • James Heneghan vs. Rod Douglas Jr. 
  • Amaar Akbar vs. Karlo Wallace
  • Tommy Fletcher vs. Toni Visic
  • Mark Heffron vs. Martin Ezequiel Bulacio  
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