Joyce: An insult that Hearn did not name as an option for Joshua

The winner of the Olympic silver medal, Joe Joyce (8-0, 8 KO's), was very surprised when his name was not mentioned on the boxers' list who will face Anthony Joshua, champion of the heavyweights of IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO.

Joshua is scheduled to debut in the United States on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

He had to face Jarrell Miller – who was removed from the fight after being tested positive for several banned substances in three separate screening tests.

After the fall of Miller, Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, named a list of potential candidates to fill the vacancy.

Among the players named were Andy Ruiz, Luis Ortiz, Manuel Charr, Adam Kownacki, Trevor Bryan and Agit Kabayel.

Although Joyce and Joshua are friends, the undefeated piercer feels that he has done more to deserve a shot than some of the potential candidates.

"It was a bit of an insult," Joyce told Declan Taylor. "I have the WBA gold belt, the title of the Commonwealth. Some of the other names mentioned did not do what I did. Andy Ruiz Jr, for example, I beat Joe Hanks and it was Ruiz's best win to date. I did it so quickly.

"Maybe, because the fight is in America, Eddie wanted an American opponent, but I fought it before. They were looking for heavy trucks so I put my name in the hat.

Joyce announced Thursday that it has signed a co-production agreement with Hearn's main rival for promotion, Frank Warren. And now, Joyce will be pushed to the UK by the television deal between Warren and BT Sport. Hearn has an exclusive agreement with Sky Sports.

Joyce's next fight may well be against another Warren fighter, the unbeaten future prospect, Daniel Dubois – but this fight is not static.