Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce is hoping the road back toward the top of the heavyweight division starts with victory over Kash Ali tonight in Birmingham.

Joyce weighed in a career-high of 286lbs at yesterday’s weigh-in, as he returns following consecutive losses to Zhilei Zhang last year.

The former Olympic silver medallist is 15-2 as a pro, with 14 wins by stoppage, and after defeating Joseph Parker in 2022, many thought Joyce was the man to beat in the division. 

Now some question what the 38-year-old “Juggernaut” has left having been seemingly indestructible earlier in his career. 

Underdog Ali, 21-2 (12 KOs), from Rotherham, is not tipped to derail Joyce’s comeback, but Joyce was quick to reply about questions concerning his weight. 

“I’m also wearing jeans, so maybe that was it,” he joked. “But yeah, I haven’t been worrying about my weight. I feel good, I’m in shape, my abs are showing, so it’s good weight. I’m fighting fit.”

Joyce has quickly become an overlooked figure, and some have suggested he has already taken too much punishment, having walked through bombs throughout his career – and his high-level spell in the amateurs and in sparring – and so the pressure is on for him to swiftly silence the doubters.

“I have to perform,” Joyce confessed. “He [Ali]’s a decent enough fighter, it’s an opportunity for him and I remember sparring him and he was decent, so it’s going to be a good exciting fight and I’m going to knock him out.”

Ali took the opportunity to goad Joyce at the weigh-in, perhaps trying to introduce some doubt into Joyce’s head, and perhaps trying to gain an advantage, but Joyce is experienced, he has been around and he was not fussed. 

“He was going on about I’m going to get my chin checked, he’s going to end my career and whatnot, so take that what you will, we will see tomorrow on fight night,” Joyce said.

“This in an unfazed face.”