Get all the boxing updates you need with our Monday Morning Matchmaker - sign up here Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Joe Joyce moved a step closer to a world title shot by stopping Bermane Stiverne. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist was taking on the former heavyweight world champion in just his eighth fight. But Stiverne, who lost his belt to Deontay Wilder in 2015, was a shadow of his former self. The Haitian lost his rematch with Wilder in the first round two years ago and will surely now hang up his gloves. Joyce started well on his return to London as the visiting Stiverne relied on the odd pot shot to remind his opponent he was still in the ring. (Image: Getty Images) Joyce landed an uppercut in the session to rock the elder statesman but the Brit could not finish the job despite unleashing a plethora of punches. He did send his man to the canvas in the next round but Stiverne was up quickly and able to continue. Joyce's exertions to this point appeared to have taken something out of him and the pace slowed from the fourth round onwards. But with Stiverne little more than a sitting target, the referee eventually stepped in during the sixth stanza. Joyce is likely to have one more fight this summer before taking on Manuel Charr for the WBA 'regular' title, the inferior version of the belt held by Anthony Joshua. The victor said: "He's such a tough guy, he took all of those shots no problem. It's only Wilder with that phenomenal power that could take him out."<doc-sep>33-year-old heavyweight prospect Joe Joyce remained unbeaten and picked up the biggest win of his yougn pro career today, improving to 8-0 (8 KO) with a sixth round stoppage of former titleholder Bermane Stiverne. Joyce and Stiverne (25-4-1, 21 KO) both got off to a fast start, with Joyce throwing a ton of punches in the first round and Stiverne, 40, doing his best to land big counter shots, which he did on a few occasions. But Joyce proved capable of taking those shots from Stiverne, and the veteran’s gas tank soon emptied. Stiverne came into this fight at 273 pounds on the scales, about 25-30 pounds heavier than he was at his best, and that caught up with him. He also hadn’t fought since a Nov. 2017 wipeout loss to Deontay Wilder. So with Stiverne’s best efforts gone after the first round and little to really show for it, the fight increasingly went Joyce’s way, as he threw a lot of punches, mixed up his attack, and landed plenty, simply overwhelming Stiverne. Stiverne went down early in the third round on a right hand, but hung around until Howard John Foster stopped things at 2:20 of the sixth, with Stiverne still on his feet but absorbing more punishment. With the win, Joyce retains the Commonwealth heavyweight title, and now says he has his sights set on climbing the rankings.<doc-sep>Joe Joyce pounded Bermane Stiverne to a halt in the sixth round as the British heavyweight lined up a shot at the WBA 'regular' title. The Olympic silver medallist maintained his destructive progress in the professional ranks, flooring Stiverne in the third round before his steady assault forced the former WBC champion to a halt at The O2. Joyce extended his unbeaten record to eight victories, all by stoppage, and is now set to challenge WBA 'regular' champion Manuel Charr. Image: Joyce's constant pressure broke down Stiverne's resistance From the first bell, Joyce unloaded heavy punches on Stiverne, who replied with a few clubbing hooks as he sought early refuge on the ropes. But Joyce pumped out a steady stream of shots in the second, forcing Stiverne to remain behind a high guard, and the 40-year-old slumped to the canvas after a hurtful flurry in the third. Stiverne bravely fought on, withstanding further punishment from Joyce, who shrugged off any punches from the Haitian in response. Image: The 33-year-old could next challenge for WBA 'regular' belt But with Stiverne almost battered to a standstill in the sixth, referee Howard Foster mercifully stepped in to signal victory for Joyce.<doc-sep>The 33-year-old secured the biggest victory of his pro career Joe Joyce edged closer to a heavyweight world title shot with a sixth-round stoppage of Bermane Stiverne. The Brit looked to put on a show when he took on former world champion Stiverne on the undercard of James DeGale vs Chris Eubank Jr at the O2 on Saturday night. Right from the opening round, Joyce attacked the less mobile 19-stone plus Canadian and landed several heavy shots. GETTY 2 Joe Joyce had too much for former world champion Bermane Stiverne Stiverne would reply with some haymaker-like right hands, but Joyce stood in front of the 40-year-old and heaped on the pressure. Joyce wobbled Stiverne in the second round and a left uppercut really put the Canadian in trouble. In a good old fashioned heavyweight slugfest, Stiverne was not shy about popping off a reply. However, that ended up working to his detriment. Zero head movement and with no mobility to get out of Joyce’s range, Stiverne was lucky to see the third round. A big overhand right at the start of the third round had Stiverne down, but, somehow, the former champ got up and had one last barrage in his locker that he wasn’t afraid to unleash. Once Joyce had him against the ropes again, the crowd in the O2 Arena were almost begging for Stiverne to be put out of his misery having roundly booed him beforehand. LATEST BOXING NEWS SERIOUS? 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Stiverne, who was WBC champ before Deontay Wilder five years ago, hung tough in the fifth round and Joyce appeared to slow his rate or punches, perhaps looking for an opening as opposed to forcing it. After Joyce’s initial push, his punches certainly lacked more punch as the fight headed into the sixth round. There was no doubt that he was in control, but now he was battling himself as much as he was Stiverne. However, midway through the sixth, the 33-year-old put Stiverne away with his much-loved left-hand jab, right uppercut combo and the ref finally intervened. Arguably, a few rounds later than he should have. 2 Joe Joyce’s victory earns him a shot at WBA regular world title holder Manuel Charr Considering that Joyce took on a former world champion that was only in the ring with Wilder 18 months ago in only his eighth fight is quite the feat and not something the likes of Anthony Joshua or Daniel Dubois could say. The victory earns ‘The Juggernaut’ a shot at WBA regular world title holder Manuel Charr and moves him closer to his ambition of an-all British showdown with Joshua later down the line.<doc-sep>
Joe Joyce vs Bermane Stiverne got off to a wild and explosive start tonight at London’s 02 Arena. Joyce basically backed up an overweight and badly out of shape Stiverne onto the ropes right from the get go. Both men decided to just throw for the fences although Joyce did try to lead with the jab at times. He got tagged easily by Stiverne in round 1 with wild right hands but took the shots well despite showing no defence at all. He did show a great chin. As round 2 progressed Joyce found a home for the right uppercut as both men continued to trade wild bombs. Stiverne in particular very wide and wild while Joyce was more tidy behind the jab at least. Round 3 saw Joyce drop Stiverne with a straight right hand after an impressive variety of punches in his combination work. The writing was on the well from there on out really as the fight progressed. Joyce controlled the fight for the most part. The end came in round 6 after what was a real beating in the end for Stiverne: Joe Joyce stops Bermane Stiverne in the 6th. A methodical beating and hopefully Stiverne calls it a career. #boxing #JoyceStiverne #DeGaleEubankJr pic.twitter.com/9RpdPQvp76 — Ismael AbduSalaam (@Ismael_BBM_NYK) February 23, 2019 Congrats to Joyce on the win but tonight shows he still has a lot of improving to do before being put anywhere near one of the top heavyweights. Certainly a million miles off being called the best heavyweight in the world like his promoter Richard Schaefer mentioned before the fight. Share this: Twitter Facebook