Joe Joyce weighs in heavier than Christian Hammer as he admits fight could go the distance

Joe Joyce will carry a slight weight advantage into his clash against Christian Hammer this weekend at Wembley Arena. 

The ‘Juggernaut’ tipped the scales marginally the heavier of the two at 265.9lbs on Friday afternoon, while Hammer, naturally the smaller man, came in at 263lbs for his fourth bout on British soil. 

Joyce, unbeaten in 13 professional outings, clocked in 2lbs heavier than in his most recent outing against Carlos Takam, as the 36-year-old fights for the first time in nearly a year having recovered from a wrist injury. 

Joyce, the overwhelming favourite, tipped the scales at 265.9lbs with Hammer at 263lbs

Joyce, the No 1 contender for Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO heavyweight title, is the firm favourite to win the fight as he looks to progress towards the elites of the division, having declared himself ready for the likes of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. 

The Brit was scheduled to fight Joseph Parker in what would have been his toughest test to date, before the former world champion pulled due to his coach, Andy Lee, being unavailable on the fight date. 

Journeyman Hammer (27-9) accepted an offer to take his place, with a proposed September bout between Joyce and Parker now also unlikely after the latter signed with Sky Sports and BOXXER. 

Hammer has stoppage defeats to Tyson and Hughie Fury on his 36-fight record, but he has also taken the likes of Alexander Povetkin, Luis Ortiz and Frank Sanchez the distance. 

Joyce had been set to fight Joseph Parker but the fight fell through with the latter’s coach, Andy Lee, unavailable 

Hammer was unconvincing as he was stopped in five rounds by Hughie Fury last year 

Joyce is expected to blast through the 34-year-old, but the Juggernaut insists his opponent – who stopped the little-known Drazan Janjanin in a round just a weeks ago in May – is capable of lasting the full 12 rounds. 

‘He looks fired up and ready, so I expect an exciting fight tomorrow night,’ Joyce told Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. 

‘He’s game and ready and he’ll be trying to knock me out. I’m goin to get back to the room, chill out and get ready for fight night.’

He continued: ‘I’ll probably get to work and see what he’s got in the early rounds, start figuring him out, figure out the patterns, see where he’s weak and avoid the big shots. Then I’ll start going to work with my own stuff.’  

Joyce puts his WBC Silver and WBO International heavyweight titles on the line on Saturday night, but it’s the belts currently shared by Fury and Oleksandr Usyk he has his eyes on. 

Frank Warren (right) insists with victory Joyce keeps himself in the mix to fight the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk (L) and Anthony Joshua (R) will square off for a second time on August 20 

Promoter Frank Warren, speaking at the pre-fight press conference on Thursday, warned his fighter against complacency, however, with victory keeping Joyce in the mix ahead of the all-important rematch between Usyk and Anthony Joshua on August 20. 

‘Saturday night, at this moment in time, is the most important fight Joe Joyce could possibly have,’ Warren said. ‘He can’t afford for anything to go wrong.

‘This his his career, his No 1 spot. He’s been patient coming off the injury, and in August on the 20th, this situation is going to turn into quite an interesting scenario.

‘The winner of the fight between AJ and Usyk has to make their mandatory defences, or – if Tyson wants to continue – a unification. 

‘Whatever happens, he’s well and truly in the mix, and that’s why he can’t afford to mess up on Saturday.’