Joe Joyce moves a step closer to a world title shot when he strides out at Wembley against Christian Hammer.
The heavyweight world revolves around Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua in August of course. They are all in the queue to fight the winner of that.
I would take WBC champion Tyson Fury to beat both. He is so much bigger than Usyk. And his height, speed and his tactical brain would be too much for Joshua.
But for any of the champions Joyce is a problem. Usyk beat Joyce in five rounds nine years ago while both were still amateurs in the World Boxing Series, but he was blowing towards the end.
And if he were in the fight after six rounds today I would give him a chance against Usyk, and Fury for that matter. He sets an unrelenting pace and takes a great shot.
His victory over Daniel Dubois was crucial and remains his biggest win. It was an amazing performance in which he revealed all his strengths.
Because of his high level of fitness, amazing chin, stamina and intensity he is very effective. He grinds opponents down.
At some point down the line you would hope they will meet again. Dubois will be a different proposition then.
Joyce is not the quickest or the hardest puncher, yet only Bryant Jennings has taken him the distance in 14 pro bouts.
Hammer will be ground down in four or five rounds. He might not get that far.
Though Joyce is 36 he didn’t start until he was 19. There are hardly any miles on the clock. He is dedicated and lives the life.
He does not get frustrated easily. All his career he has chugged along. He is used to meeting more technical fighters.
Because he is so big and physically strong he just wipes out the advantage of fighters who might possess the greater natural ability and range of shots.
He does not let anybody dominate from the centre of ring. He might look easy to read but he doesn’t telegraph his shots.
Hammer is just too small. He was ko’d in the first round last time out by an opponent with 34 defeats on his record.
This is not meant to be a test for Joyce. It’s about slamming another ‘W’ on his record getting into position to face the big boys.
When he does that you will see the best of him.
Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @McGuigans_Gym
