Heavyweight Joe Joyce making U.S. debut on Ortiz-Molina card]

Mark Ortega

Heavyweight Joe Joyce making U.S. debut on Ortiz-Molina card] image

LOS ANGELES-- Prized heavyweight prospect Joe Joyce is ready to take on America.

That was one of the prevailing points RingStar Sports chairman and CEO Richard Schaefer made Tuesday at the luncheon to announce Victor Ortiz's crosstown showdown with John Molina at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.

Joyce will be in the co-featured bout against Iago Kiladze, marking the south London heavyweight's first fight in a U.S. ring. It will also mark the first fight with renowned trainer Abel Sanchez in his corner as Joyce has been training with him up in Big Bear.

"I have a plan, and a goal to get where I want to be to win a world title," Joyce said. "I've settled into Big Bear to train and it's like my second home. I'm looking forward to making my U.S. debut on September 30."

Joyce is 5-0 with all five winnings coming inside the distance. At 32 years of age, Schaefer's plan is to move him along quickly. That's been clear from the outset, as Joyce was thrown into a 10-round bout in his pro debut, stopping Ian Lewinson in the eighth round. No opponent since has made it out of the second round.

"I have a lot of really good sparring up in Big Bear for the next couple weeks and it's going to get me ready for September 30," Joyce said. "It's a different structure and tempo in Big Bear than it was in the UK. It took a bit of time to adjust but now I feel comfortable and I feel like I fit into the group of boxers we have there. I see myself progressing and getting even stronger."

Kiladze (26-3, 18 KOs) is a 32-year-old from the country of Georgia who lives in Los Angeles. He's lost two in a row by knockout to Adam Kownacki and Michael Hunter, but still represents Joyce's biggest test of his career.

"I've looked at Kiladze's record and he has a good knockout percentage and he has a lot of good experience," Joyce said. "He's a strong guy but I'm just going to have to look a little more closely and work out his strengths and weaknesses and capitalize on that."

The 6'6" Joyce said since coming to America, he's been asked what sport he plays because of his massive size. "I'm a boxer, but you don't play that," Joyce told Sporting News.

Joyce signed with Al Haymon last month, and with Premier Boxing Champions announcing a landmark deal with FOX on Tuesday, the Brit is in a good position to be moved rapidly up the heavyweight rankings. That begins Sept. 30 at 9 PM ET on FS1.
 

Mark Ortega