Joe Joyce and Lawrence Okolie are set to return to the heavyweight scene after mixed performances in recent outings.
For Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs), this is a crucial moment in his career. After building a reputation as one of the most durable heavyweights in the world, his back-to-back stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang exposed major flaws, and a recent loss to Derek Chisora has left fans wondering what ‘The Juggernaut’ has left. The former WBO interim champion now needs a big win if he is to re-establish himself among the division’s elite.
Okolie (20-1, 14 KOs) made his heavyweight debut in December, after a brief stop-off in the bridgerweight division, in which he stopped Lukasz Rozanski inside a round to claim the WBC bridgerweight title. Okolie held the WBO Cruiserweight title until his clash with Chris Billam-Smith which ended in the first and only loss of his career.
Joe Joyce & Lawrence Okolie Opponents Revealed
Joyce is set to take on none other than Dillian Whyte (31-3, 19 KOs), a former WBC interim champion who is also on a mission to rebuild his career following a loss to Tyson Fury, a PED ban, and a lacklustre performance in his return against Ebeneezer Tetteh.
Joyce is expected to first face Patrick Korte on the first of March, though this may be cancelled if it clashes with the Whyte fight. Though both fight in a bid to get back into some big fights, it seems for Joyce, this is more than a fight against Dillian Whyte, it is a fight for his career. Many believe retirement should be on the cards for ‘The Juggernaut’ who has gone from defeating Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois, to losing to Derek Chisora.
Okolie, on the other hand, will face Richard Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KOs).With only one loss, also to Chris Billam-Smith (who he has previously beaten), Richard Riakporhe is taking the biggest risk of his career by moving up and facing Okolie in his heavyweight debut.
The event is expected to be officially announced on Monday, setting up one of the biggest domestic boxing nights of the year.
Joyce’s Recent Struggles and Path to Redemption
Joe “The Juggernaut” Joyce, an Olympic silver medalist, has faced a challenging period in his professional career. His undefeated record was shattered in April 2023 when he suffered a devastating sixth-round knockout loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box Arena in London. This defeat cost him his WBO interim heavyweight title. A rematch was swiftly arranged for September 2023 at Wembley Arena, but the outcome was even more conclusive, with Zhang stopping Joyce in the third round via TKO due to a damaged eye. These back-to-back losses raised serious questions about Joyce’s durability and future at the elite level of the heavyweight division. His most recent outing against Derek Chisora on July 27, 2024, at The O2 Arena in London, further compounded his woes. Chisora, at 40 years old, secured a unanimous decision victory over Joyce with scorecards of 97-92, 96-94, and 96-94. Chisora even managed to drop Joyce in the ninth round with a counter-right hand, a rare sight for the usually granite-chinned “Juggernaut”. This string of defeats has made his upcoming bout against Dillian Whyte a must-win situation, with some pundits suggesting his career hangs in the balance.
The scheduled fight against Patrick Korte on March 1st in Bournemouth was intended as a tune-up bout for Joyce. However, sources from Queensberry Promotions confirmed that Joyce withdrew from the Korte fight, likely to focus entirely on the more significant clash with Whyte. The highly anticipated all-British showdown with Dillian Whyte is now slated for April 5, 2025, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, UK. This fight is set to be the inaugural major event under a new multi-year partnership between Queensberry Promotions and DAZN.
Okolie’s Cruiserweight Reign and Heavyweight Ambitions
Lawrence Okolie’s journey has seen him dominate the cruiserweight division before making a strategic move to heavyweight. He captured the WBO Cruiserweight title in March 2021 by knocking out Krzysztof Glowacki in the sixth round in London. Okolie successfully defended his title three times, including a unanimous decision victory over David Light in March 2023. However, his reign came to an end on May 27, 2023, when he faced his former friend and sparring partner Chris Billam-Smith at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth. In a hard-fought contest, Billam-Smith knocked Okolie down three times and earned a majority decision victory with scorecards of 116-107, 115-108, and a controversial 112-112. Okolie was also deducted two points for excessive holding during the bout. Following this loss, Okolie made a successful foray into the bridgerweight division, stopping Lukasz Rozanski in the first round on May 24, 2024, at the Podpromie Arena in Rzeszow, Poland, to claim the WBC bridgerweight title. He floored Rozanski three times before the referee halted the contest at 2:55 of the first round. This dominant performance showcased his formidable power and paved the way for his full transition to the heavyweight ranks.
Dillian Whyte and Richard Riakporhe: Seeking Resurgence
Dillian Whyte, known as “The Body Snatcher,” has had a tumultuous career marked by significant victories, tough losses, and controversies. His most high-profile defeat came against WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on April 23, 2022, at Wembley Stadium in London. Fury delivered a brutal sixth-round technical knockout, dropping Whyte with a powerful right uppercut. Whyte has also faced two separate doping bans. The first was a two-year suspension from October 2012 to October 2014 after testing positive for methylhexaneamine (MHA) from a contaminated supplement. A second, more recent positive test in 2019, prior to his fight with Oscar Rivas, led to a temporary suspension, though he was later cleared after it was accepted he had consumed a contaminated supplement. Whyte made his return to the ring on March 17, 2024, in Castlebar, Ireland, stopping Christian Hammer via corner retirement after the third round. While a victory, the fight was largely untelevised and seen as a low-key comeback. Now, facing Joe Joyce, Whyte aims to prove he still belongs among the heavyweight elite.
Richard Riakporhe (20-1, 16 KOs), nicknamed “The Midnight Train,” has steadily climbed the cruiserweight ranks and is now making a bold move to heavyweight. His sole professional loss came against Chris Billam-Smith in their first encounter on July 20, 2019, for the WBA Inter-Continental cruiserweight title, where he lost a split decision with scores of 97-92, 95-94 for Riakporhe, and 96-93 for Billam-Smith. Riakporhe avenged this loss in a highly anticipated rematch on June 15, 2024, at Selhurst Park in London, retaining his WBO world cruiserweight title via unanimous decision with scorecards of 116-111, 115-112, and 115-112. Riakporhe’s move to heavyweight to face Okolie represents a significant step up in competition and a clear statement of his ambitions in the sport.
The double-header featuring these four prominent British fighters promises to be a pivotal night for the heavyweight and bridgerweight landscapes, with all combatants eager to make a statement and propel themselves towards world title contention. The official announcement, expected soon, will undoubtedly generate immense excitement among boxing fans.
