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Top heavyweight prospect Joe Joyce wasted no time in taking care of business tonight in Los Angeles, kicking off the Wilder-Fury pay-per-view with a first round stoppage of Joe Hanks.
Joyce (7-0, 7 KO) clipped Hanks with a shot that hurt him and had him staggered with less than a minute left in the round, then connected with a big left hook that put Hanks down and out moments later.
The official time of stoppage was 2:25 of the first round.
The 33-year-old Joyce is older than you might expect, and there are hopes that they’ll step down harder on his matchmaking in the new year. For now, Hanks (23-3, 15 KO) is a respectable enough win, one that proves Joyce is clearly above this level, and he sounds like he’s ready to step it up a bit himself.
“I’m ready for anyone,” Joyce told Showtime’s Jim Gray after the fight. “I want to get in some bigger fights. I’m ready, so whoever’s watching, I’m ready. I’m ready to show you all.”