NEW YORK – Frank Sanchez is scheduled to face Carlos Negron on Saturday night, but there is another 6-foot-6 heavyweight in the back of the Cuban contender’s mind.

“I want Joe Joyce,” Sanchez said during an open workout Wednesday, “because I feel that the technique and the speed that I have can beat Joe Joyce.”

London’s Joyce has emerged as one of boxing’s best heavyweights over the past two years. In his most recent appearance, the hard-hitting Joyce battered Joseph Parker until he became the first opponent to knock out the former WBO champion in the 11th round September 24 at AO Arena in Manchester, England.

Joyce (15-0, 14 KOs) finished off Parker (30-3, 21 KOs) with a left hook and drew worldwide praise for his superb performance. Sanchez sees holes in Joyce’s game that he can exploit, though, and hopes he gets the opportunity to prove himself against the WBO interim champion.

“Joe Joyce, I seen him last time fighting,” said Sanchez, who is ranked third by the WBO. “And I feel that I’m a lot quicker [than Parker], a lot sharper and my punches are a lot harder.”

The 30-year-old Sanchez (20-0, 13 KOs) weighed in at a career-high 247¾ pounds Friday for his 10-round bout against Puerto Rico’s Negron (25-3, 20 KOs), who weighed 244½. Sanchez, a Miami resident, was nearly eight pounds heavier than his previous high, 240 pounds, the day before he defeated Efe Ajagba last October 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“I feel very prepared and I had a good camp,” Sanchez said. “And I feel that, with my experience, I’m gonna be on top with all the other heavyweight champions out there. … I’ve got more speed and more experience [than Negron]. And that’s gonna make the difference.”

Sanchez last fought January 1, when he dropped German veteran Christian Hammer in the 10th round and beat him by unanimous decision at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Joyce dropped Hammer (27-10, 17 KOs) four times and stopped him in the fourth round July 2 at Wembley Arena in London.

Nevertheless, handicappers have established Sanchez as at least a 25-1 favorite to beat Negron on the Deontay Wilder-Robert Helenius undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 10-round bout between Sanchez and Negron, who will end a one-year layoff, will be the second of three undercard bouts FOX Sports Pay-Per-View will broadcast before Wilder-Helenius ($74.99; 9 p.m. ET).

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.