IT’S ALL GUNNER BE ON THE LINE!
Warren warns Arsenal fan Joyce his title dream fight v Joshua depends on win against Takam
FRANK WARREN has warned Joe Joyce his world-title dream is on the line against Carlos Takam.
Joyce has been told that he will become the WBO’S mandatory challenger after No.1 contender Oleksandr Usyk faces Anthony Joshua on September 25.
Warren has worked hard to get Joyce into the mandatory position and says he will lose his golden ticket if he slips up against Takam tomorrow at the SSE Arena, Wembley.
The Queensberry Promotions chief claims everything that massive Arsenal fan Joyce has worked for since he was an amateur is at stake when he climbs through the ropes tomorrow.
“Joe will be in the No.1 spot after the fight between AJ and Usyk takes place,” said Warren.
“He can’t afford to slip up, everything is on the line for him, the world-title fight is on the line, he can’t make a mistake.
“Joe’s had a fantastic amateur career. He was robbed of the gold medal in the Olympic final and is unbeaten as a professional.
“He’s on the cusp of doing something really big and I’m looking for him to put in a big performance and make a statement and show everyone that this guy can win a world title.”
Joyce faces Takam off the back of his career-best win over Daniel Dubois, and Warren says the Olympic silver medallist has put himself in a great position when the division is log jammed.
“The heavyweight scene at the top end is a bit messed up,” he said.
“The fight between Tyson Fury and AJ should have taken place and now Tyson’s fight against Deontay Wilder has been pushed back until October. AJ against Usyk is now in September.
“In the meantime, the next generation of heavyweights are lining up, getting into position and filling the mandatory positions.
“If Joe beats Takam, then he will become the WBO’S mandatory challenger after AJ fights Usyk.
“The winner will then have to fight him or vacate and either way, Joe will be in a great position to fight for the world title.”
Takam, 40, pushed Joshua hard before being stopped in 10 rounds in 2017 and the Frenchman insists he can hurt Joyce. “You ask me if I have the power?” said the former world-title challenger. “If I didn’t have the power, I wouldn’t be here.
“Of course, I have the power. Joe is a strong guy, but this is going to be a war.”
■■JOYCE v Takam is live on Saturday on BT Sport 1 HD from 7.15pm.