Putney’s Joe Joyce stopped former world heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne in the sixth round at the 02 Arena.
‘The Juggernaut’, in his eighth professional fight, continued to speed towards contention for a world title shot and dominated a largely one-sided bout against his out-of-shape 40-year-old opponent.
He did look worryingly open at times, taking heavy shots from Stiverne in the opening minute.
Joyce responded with big punches of his own and did so again in the second, when Stiverne looked close to being stopped after taking a series of shots – including a blistering uppercut – after which the Haitian-Canadian stumbled back to his corner at the end of the round.
Stiverne was in trouble again in round three and took a count after being kept up by the ropes following a thumping right hook.
Joyce plodded forward in the subsequent rounds and seemed to be struggling to get the stoppage before unleashing a flurry of shots which prompted the referee to step in.
The fight was the chief support to James DeGale’s super-middleweight clash with Chris Eubank Jr.
This post was last modified on 23/02/2019