Joe Joyce: Oleksandr Usyk should vacate 'if he doesn't want to fight me'

Joe Joyce insists that Oleksandr Usyk must vacate the WBO heavyweight title “if he doesn’t want to fight me.”

‘The Juggernaut’ is the mandatory challenger for that strap – but he might not get the chance to fight the undefeated Ukrainian.

Usyk, 35, recently admitted that retirement isn’t too far away, but wants to fight both Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez before he hangs up his gloves for good.

But Joyce, 37, believes Usyk will have to vacate the WBO belt for that to happen.

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Speaking on Sky Sports News, he said: “If Usyk doesn’t want to fight me then he has to vacate the belt and then I get elevated to full champion. From there, I can defend the belt. 

“That was the next jump into the elite bracket. [Parker] is a top fighter, ex world champion, so it was a great victory for me. I think I did a good job and the future is bright – I look forward to the next couple of fights coming up.

“Lots of credit to Joseph Parker, he is a tough guy. I was hitting him with everything and he was still coming back with three or four punches in between and I had to really push to get the victory.

“I didn’t have to fight Joseph Parker, but it then pushed me up to the next level.”

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The two have fought before having previously shared the ring together in the amateurs but Joyce insists a rematch a decade later would be a very different story.

“I think I would start to get to him,” he added, “If I can keep the pressure up. He is a very skilful fighter, but at this level it’s all going to be tough from here on in.”

“This time I would be more prepared and have a proper