Joyce and Parker weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight fight in Manchester
Two of the top 10 heavyweights in the world will collide at the AO Arena in Manchester tonight (24 September), as Joe Joyce welcomes Joseph Parker back to Britain for a highly-anticipated main-event fight.
Since winning silver for Team GB at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Joyce has compiled an unbeaten professional record of 14-0, knocking out 13 of his opponents along the way. Joyce has therefore been wasting no time in trying to become a world champion, which has been ideal for the 37-year-old, whose reputation as an up-and-comer belies his age. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Parker is 30-2 as a pro, with his only defeats having come against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in back-to-back bouts in 2018, both on British soil as the home fighters outpointed the 30-year-old.
Parker’s last two outings also took place in Britain, as the Kiwi beat Derek Chisora via split decision then by unanimous decision in May and December 2021. Joyce, meanwhile, has fought more recently, stopping Christian Hammer in the fourth round this July. The WBO interim heavyweight title is on the line in this evening’s main event, with Parker and Joyce both taking a considerable risk by facing one another.
Plus, in a huge co-main event, unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano puts her titles on the line against Sarah Mahfoud. Follow live updates and results from Joyce vs Parker and its undercard, below.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Next up is middleweight action as Nathan Heaney takes on Jack Flatley.
A swell of support here for Heaney, who emerges to a considerable reaction.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
This will go down as a split decision...
The Northern Irishman dethrones Magnesi as IBO super-featherweight champion!
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 12
Final round.
A right cross connects for Magnesi. Cacace comes back with one of his own. Now he backs up Magnesi for the first time in a while.
A combination lands for Magnesi, who is finally looking tired. Cacace with a counter left hook, but Magnesi unloads hooks to the body of the Northern Irishman.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 11
Two rounds to go. Cacace has only grown into this bout, despite constant forward pressure from champion Magnesi.
A right cross and left hook are on point for Magnesi. Cacace lands a left uppercut in the clinch.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 10
Final few rounds. More clean counter shots from Cacace on the back foot.
Magnesi eventually gets through with a short right hand. He then misses with a series of hooks, though, before Cacace snaps back the Italian’s head with a jab.
A Cacace left hook and right cross find homes up top. Now Magnesi manages a first significant shot in a while, however, hooking to the head of Cacace.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 9
Lots of volume from both fighters early in this ninth round. The super-featherweights clinch, and Magnesi just unleashes a series of right hooks into Cacace’s ribs.
The pair separate, and Cacace stops Magnesi in his tracks with a hard left hand as the Italian presses forward. Lovely shot.
A lancing jab scores for Magnesi, then a right hand.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 8
More viciousness from Magnesi, who targets Cacace’s body in the clinch and then smashes a right hook into the Northern Irishman’s temple. He is warned by the referee for supposedly being a bit dirty, though...
The men separate, and Magnesi lands a clean hook to the head! Now Cacace connects with a sharp one-two, however!
A left hook lands for Cacace as he steps in to close range. This is promising from the Northern Irishman, who looked at risk of tiring out. Another left hook scores for Cacace, this one to the body.
Late in the round, a right cross connects for Cacace! Magnesi grins and shakes his head.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 7
Brutal output from Magnesi, who immediately backs up Cacace and buries body shots into the Northern Irishman’s ribs.
It seems that Magnesi isn’t going to fade, while Cacace is perhaps beginning to... though he’s trying to maintain activity.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 6
Cacace misses with a few hooks and uppercuts and is punished for being too static, as Magnesi is then much more clinical, landing a spiteful right hook to the head.
It seems that the cut by Cacace’s left eye was caused by an accidental clash of heads...
Now Magnesi puts together a quick combination up top.
Joyce vs Parker LIVE
Magnesi vs Cacace – Round 5
Magnesi is certainly landing with considerable volume as the fight approaches its midway point.
The super-featherweights trade right hands. You have to wonder whether the constant movement under pressure is going to wear down Cacace.
He lands a hard right cross to the body of Magnesi but also looks to have been cut by his left eye.
