Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker: Live updates, round-by-round scoring, winner

The heavyweight division has a title on the line Saturday afternoon in Manchester, England. ESPN+ will air a card headlined by Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker competing for the WBO’s interim heavyweight title. The main card starts at 2 p.m. ET and Joyce-Parker is expected to get going in the 5 p.m. hour.

Both fighters come into this bout holding secondary titles. Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs) holds the WBC Silver and WBO International titles while Parker (30-2, 19 KOs) has held the WBO’s Inter-Continental title. Joyce most recently defeated Christian Hammer via fourth-round TKO in July to retain his two belts. Parker is coming off two straight wins over Derek Chisora last year, winning a split decision in May of 2021 and a unanimous decision in the December rematch. This is Parker’s second bid for a major title. He beat Andy Ruiz in 2016 to win the WBO title and twice retained it before losing it via unanimous decision to Anthony Joshua in 2018.

Joyce comes into the bout as the favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook. He is a -205 favorite while Parker is a +165 underdog. The favored fight outcome is a Joyce decision at +150, followed by a Joyce stoppage at +200. A Parker decision is +320 and a Parker stoppage is +550.

We’ll be here to provide live round-by-round updates with scores until we have a winner and new WBO interim heavyweight champion.

Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker round-by-round results

Round 1: 10-9 Joyce

A close round either way as both men begin to feel each other out.

Round 2: 10-9 Joyce

Parker starting to leak a bit from his nose as Joyce continues coming forward. Doesn’t feel like we’ll need these scorecards at this pace.

Round 3: 10-9 Joyce

Parker might have stolen the round with a huge right at the end, but as the three minutes advanced the momentum certainly shifted. Joyce looked like he was going for the kill after some powerful rights followed a few quality jabs. But Joyce survived and started to thrive in the last minute with some rights of his own, including some good work to the body.

Round 4: 10-9 Parker

Some thunderous rights from Parker give him this one, but Joyce barely seemed to flinch despite the quality of what he was eating. More activity from Joyce, more power from Parker.

Round 5: 10-9 Joyce

Just not as much activity from Parker, who was on the ropes and defending most of the round.

Round 6: 10-9 Joyce

Perhaps the best round yet from Joyce, who walked his opponent down most of the round and just dominated with his jab. Parker looks for power punches in spurts, but he also looks to be wearing down.

Round 7: 10-9 Joyce

Parker is now leaking over his right eye, as the jabs from Joyce are often followed up with quality right hands to the body and head. Parker continues to take plenty of punishment, but he’s looking for one huge punch where he can. But they just aren’t landing.

Round 8: 10-9 Joyce

Much better from Parker, who added some big rights in that round with ferocity. But the round still goes to the favorite, who is dominating the center of the ring and has plenty of energy it appears. The cut on Parker is still plenty open.

Round 9: 10-9 Parker

Maybe the best from Parker so far, who is landing huge blows on the not-too-often occasions when he finds the right range. But Joyce appears to be made of metal, as the huge shots he’s taking don’t appear to be effecting him much at all.

Round 10: 10-9 Joyce

A flurry from Parker at the end might have stolen it, but on body of work Joyce still made the most of it. Parker is still leaking out of his right eye, and he’s got plenty of blood in the middle of his face as well but we can’t tell if that’s another cut.

Round 11: Joe Joyce wins by KO in the 11th round

A huge left hook from Joyce to an unguarded Parker knocked him backwards into the corner. Parker grabs the ropes and comes to his feet at the count of nine, but it wasn’t enough and the referee rightly called it off.