Joe gets back on track with London win over Declan Houston

Back at his natural weight, Joe returned to winning ways with a close points victory over Declan Houston at the Top King Europe Series at Indigo O2 in London.

It was exactly the kind of performance Joe needed against Irish fighter Houston - ranked eighth in the world at the time - to announce his return to the top of the sport.

After two difficult defeats, Joe got himself back under the lights in London with something to prove. He found a worthy test in Houston, an experienced, busy fighter, and Joe backed himself completely.

More than anything, it felt like the start of a new run, with Joe putting himself back into the mix against strong names and rebuilding momentum fight by fight.

A win that counts

“A win like that tells you where you are. I felt good, I was sharp, and the work in training showed,” he said.

The victory moved Joe back up the WMO world rankings and laid down a marker. After the setbacks of the previous year, this was the result that confirmed his rehabilitation is well underway.

‍