Joe Joyce vs Joseph Parker LIVE: Latest updates, result and reaction tonight
Re-live updates from the heavyweights’ showdown in Manchester plus all the undercard action
On Saturday night in Manchester, Joe Joyce was unfazed, undeterred and unrelenting as he marched through Joseph Parker’s offence, defence and resilience to knock out the New Zealander in the 11th round and claim the vacant interim WBO heavyweight title. There have been criticisms of Joyce’s speed, movement and creativity since the Olympic silver medalist turned pro, but the Briton has compiled a 15-0 (14 KOs) unbeaten record by playing to his strengths, and that was exactly what he did against Parker in this enthralling main-event contest at the AO Arena.
At 37 years old, Joyce has time against him in his quest to become a world champion, but it did not show on Saturday. Joyce picked his moments wisely in Manchester, applying constant, measured pressure against Parker but only increasing the volume and intensity of his output when absolutely necessary. Joyce established a healthy lead with forward movement, teasing jabs and well-timed power punches, while New Zealand’s Parker demonstrated great heart to absorb his opponent’s most effective offence and fire back with brutal body hooks and the occasional frightening haymaker.
Yet the “Juggernaut” continually pressed forward, indefatigable as he accepted Parker’s punches as though they were ‘tickles’, something he had threatened to do ahead of the bout. As the cuts and bruises began to mount for Parker, who did his best not to wilt and to instead conjure a finish against the odds, Joyce sensed that the end need not wait until the final bell, and he ultimately put Parker away in the penultimate round. Re-live updates from Joyce vs Parker and the full undercard, below.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 10
Essuman aims to start this round strong to quell any momentum that Antwi looked to be building in Round 9.
He connects with a heavy right hook as Antwi is backed up against the ropes. Antwi survives the onslaught, but Essuman maintains pressure and lands a clean left hook.
The welterweights clinch for a short while before separating and landing simultaneous hooks to the head! Ouch.
Antwi then employs some slick head movement to avoid Essuman’s offensive efforts, making somewhat of a show of it.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 9
Essuman presses forward again, perhaps keen to set up a finish here. Antwi tries to stay disciplined, fighting behind the jab.
A couple of hooks then land for Antwi, and Essuman appears to be a little out of sorts for the first time!
The welterweights then trade shots in a bit of a firefight in the middle of the ring!
This actually seems to have given Antwi some greater confidence as the final few rounds approach...
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 8
Nice range management from Antwi, who stays just past the end of Essuman’s jab.
Essuman connects with an overhand right, though, one of his best punches up to this point.
Antwi is trying to look lively, but he’s slowly being worn down by Essuman, who uses some physicality on Antwi, who is against the ropes.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 7
Lots of activity from Antwi with the jab early in this seventh round. He’s trying to fight on the front foot.
Nice counter work from Essuman, though; he’s mixing up his shots more than Antwi.
Essuman backs up Antwi and lands a fierce overhand right! It’s the best shot of the fight so far, and Antwi suddenly looks tired, too. He comes back with a clean left hook, but he’s still being outworked.
Eventually Essuman lets his opponent off the ropes. Antwi tries to get back on the front foot, but he misses with a number of jab attempts and sees a right cross to the head blocked by Essuman.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 6
Good head movement from Antwi as Essuman looks to land his jab. Antwi then just misses with a right cross upstairs, and Essuman punishes his fellow Briton with a harsh right hook to the body.
More body work now from Essuman as he leans on Antwi against the ropes. A right hook misses for Antwi.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 5
More clinching early in the fifth round. The fighters then get back into the open, where there’s a fair bit of feinting from each man.
A lunging left hook gets through for Essuman, who then tries to bully Antwi with heavy strikes in close, against the ropes.
Antwi is staying composed and clean and is firing back, but Essuman’s offence is the more eye-catching at the moment.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 4
Essuman is starting to find his groove here. Antwi takes the centre of the ring but is soon displaced as Essuman makes him miss and then launches his own offence.
The pair clinch but are soon separated by the referee. A lovely right uppercut and left hook from Antwi as Essuman fails to slip the shots!
There’s another brief clinch, before Essuman beats Antwi to the punch as both men try for a jab.
Essuman seems to just about miss with a wild overhand right in the final seconds of the round.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 3
Essuman is applying more pressure here, teasing Antwi with the jab but prioritising heavy hooks when in close.
Antwi grazes his compatriot with two hooks of his own, however – a left-right to the head.
Antwi tries to walk down Essuman, who stays light on his feet with lateral movement, making himself hard to pin down.
Essuman then puts together a longer combination as Antwi tries to evade with head movement. The defence isn’t slick enough, however, and Antwi would really be better off trying to block these shots.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 2
Great work from Antwi early in Round 2. He’s beating Essuman to the punch every time, quicker with his jab and slicker with his head movement and timing.
Essuman fires a nice right cross into the midriff of his fellow Briton now, however. But he then comes forward and is caught with a counter shot to the head.
A good combination follows for Essuman, though, with hooks to the body then head of Antwi. He backs Antwi up against the ropes, but Antwi stays composed.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Essuman vs Antwi – Round 1
Not the most eventful first round here until the final moments, but Antwi shows flashes of his ability – especially with his lead left hand.
Essuman, meanwhile, was working well behind his jab throughout the opening frame.
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