Joe Joyce vs Kash Ali: Betting Odds & Prediction
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British heavyweight Joe Joyce returns to action for the first time in almost six months when he faces Kash Ali over ten rounds on Saturday.
The fight will be Joyce's first since consecutive stoppage defeats to Zhilei Zhang last year. The second saw Joyce knocked out inside three rounds by the Chinese Olympian.
Joyce-Ali takes place on the 'Magnificent Seven' card at Birmingham's Resorts World Arena this weekend, promoted by Frank Warren.
Tale of the Tape
There can be no doubting the damage caused to Joyce's momentum by the two losses to Zhang. The extent of the damage to his overall career and his plans moving forward remains to be seen, however.
Prior to facing Zhang, Joyce had amassed 15 wins in as many outings. 14 of those wins ended inside the distance, including an eleventh-round stoppage of former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
Joyce was appropriately dubbed the 'Juggernaut' due to his relentless pressure and ability to continue moving forward, taking and absorbing punishment from every opponent faced. The entertaining but unsustainable style eventually caught up with him, however.
Ali meanwhile can be remembered for a bizarre showing against David Price in 2019. The fight ended with Ali being disqualified after biting the Liverpudlian. Ali had also been deducted a point prior to the disqualification.
The 32-year-old (21-2, 12KOs) won his next six against uninspiring opposition before he suffered a second loss to Bohdan Myronets on points. Ali has not fought since.
Saturday's fight is set for ten rounds. Joyce has fought across and beyond the distance during victories over Bryant Jennings, Daniel Dubois and the aforementioned Parker. The longest Ali has endured is seven rounds when he forced Roman Gorst to retire in September 2021.
Prediction
If Joyce is operating anywhere near the level he was at prior to meeting Zhang, the Rio Olympic silver medalist should dispose of Ali in comfortable fashion. There is little value on the former on the moneyline, but a Joyce stoppage is a likely outcome anyhow.
While Joyce may benefit from getting some rounds under his belt, failure to get Ali out of there in timely fashion will rightly raise eyebrows and cast further doubt on his ability to compete at the top of the heavyweight division.
Ali started well against Price but looked increasingly uninterested as the fight bore on. Despite many feeling he was ahead in the fight, his decision to bite down on Price's midriff on multiple occasions spoke volumes regarding his aspiration on the night. Expect Ali to be active early on but to slowly fizzle out as the rounds pass by.
OddsNow's Pick: Fight to go over 4.5 rounds (11/10 @ Sky Bet); Joyce to win between rounds 3-4 (12/5 @ PaddyPower)
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