Joe Joyce aims subtle dig at Anthony Joshua over Jermaine Franklin fight ahead of his own tantalising Zhilei Zhang clash

JOE JOYCE reckons Anthony Joshua’s comeback opponent proves he is in no rush to return to the top of the heavyweight division.

The 37-year-old Putney ace was a long-time training and sparring partner for AJ before he won gold at London 2012 and Joyce was robbed of the same medal at Rio 2016.

Anthony Joshua will throw down with Jermaine Franklin in April

The fight will be Joshua’s first since his back-to-back losses to Oleksand UsymGETTY

INSTATGRAMThe fight has been mocked by former sparring partner Joe Joyce[/caption]

But the former Team GB team-mates are now on a giant collision course and the Juggernaut jokes he cannot even mention Joshua’s name – when reacting to the announcement of his April 1 fight with Jermaine Franklin – for fear of kicking up a controversy.

Joyce, who is in a far more competitive fight with fellow 6ft 6in Olympic silver winner Zilhei Zang on April 15, refused to say AJ’s name but laughed over Zoom from his Las Vegas camp as he compared him to Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort.

“It’s something he has to do,” he said about AJ’s underwhelming return. “I guess he wants to take the long route back. He who shall not be named.

“I went to the Olympics, I turned professional at 31 and I’ve had to get a move on.

“Me and my team have strategically made the right steps. I’ve boxed all over the world, on all the channels. To get to the top you have to plan out your route.

“I’ve delivered in all of my fights, I’m on a mission.”

Joyce was a fine art student, shot putter, triple jumper, rugby player and American cheerleader before he took up boxing aged 21.

Despite all his athletic ability and granite chin, he was always written off as too slow and stiff to beat the best heavyweights in the division.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023

But he is on a thrilling run of form after jabbing Daniel Dubois into submission and collapsing Joseph Parker with a monstrous left hook.

He looks a better fighter than the novice who lost an amateur contest to reigning WBA, IBF and WBO king Oleksandr Usyk back in 2013 and fans are beginning to be convinced by him.

“I have noticed fans liking me more,” he said.

“It started with the Dubois fight and the next one was the Parker win.

“People are really getting on board and seeing what I am made of.

“People are starting to see that I am not just ‘Slow Joe’ or ‘Robotic Joe’. I actually do some damage and I have skills.

Joe Joyce will face China’s Zhilei Zhang on April 15GETTY

“I am not the finished article, I am always in the gym learning and trying to improve

“If you look at my earlier fights, if you look at my fight with Usyk, my technique is not very good and I do look very robotic.

“I guess maybe when people are used to looking at other weights and the way I throw punches it may look slower but I’m aiming to improve on my weaknesses.”

Joyce reunited with Usyk in December when the pair jumped onto the Tottenham ring apron after Tyson Fury’s battering of Derek Chisora.

The 36-year-old Ukraine ace looks set to secure an undisputed decider with the WBC Gypsy King on April 29 in Saudi Arabia.

And the west London KO artist says he will be on hand once again to stir up some trouble and hopefully seal his overdue shot at a world title.

“I’d love to get down to Saudi and watch the fight live,” he said.

“I’ll get in the ring, call whoever wins out. Turn up, cause a fuss and walk out.”