Putney boxer Joe Joyce shone on his professional debut with a convincing stoppage win over Ian Lewison as he justified David Haye’s decision to fast track his career.
Ian Lewison was considered an ambitious maiden fight for the 32-year-old heavyweight, but superior conditioning and skill delivered victory at the Indigo O2 Arena.
Joyce landed some clean punches on his way to an eighth-round stoppage, and is already eyeing up a British title shot next time out.
On a busy ten-fight undercard, David Haye’s other protégées, Michael Venom Page and Willy Hutchinson, also produced impressive victories on their professional debuts.
Lewison came out swinging from the start of every round, only to be disrupted by a strong Joyce left jab.
Joyce, nicknamed ‘the Juggernaut,’ showed composure and technique to pick apart his adversary and ground the heavier fighter down as the fight progressed.
By the end of the third round Lewison had a bad cut on his right eye and a rolled ankle as he stumbled back to his corner, the ringside doctor was called in to assess Lewison’s clarity of vision.
Joyce unloaded after this and picked his punches intelligently producing a display beyond his professional record.
The decision to have the fight at 10 rounds proved sensible as Lewison began to tire and Joyce maintained his work rate.
The eighth round saw Joyce land some clean hooks as Lewison closed up on the ropes, his corner throwing the towel in to save their fighter from any more punishment.
While not a completely faultless performance it was impressive for a debut fight, and Joe Joyce looks to be an exciting prospect in the Heavyweight division.
The Putney fighter has now set his eyes on a potential British title fight in only his second professional bout with David Haye already suggesting Sam Sexton as a possible opponent.
