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‘Big Bang’ proved far too good for the ‘Juggernaut’ in April, inflicting the first defeat of Joyce’s professional career by way of TKO after the Brit sustained significant damage to his right eye.
In preparation for the rematch, Joyce spoke about correcting the “mistakes” that saw him so easily defeated. Having come in almost a stone lighter than his opponent the first time around, Joyce piled on the pounds to reach a career-high weight of over 20st.
That did not work either. Joyce was sluggish, tentative and frankly lethargic during the fight, failing to throw anything meaningful and looking rocked as soon as Zhang picked him off on the inside. By the time Zhang felled Joyce with a spiteful haymaker in the third round, it felt as if ‘The Juggernaut’ had already lasted too long.
Quite where he goes from here is unclear. Credit must be afforded for taking a rematch laced with risk but it may well have cost him his top level career.
Live updates
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Thanks for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Joe Joyce’s defeat to Zhilei Zhang.
Find our report and reaction below!
Joe Joyce shrugs off retirement talk after Zhilei Zhang defeat
Joe Joyce shrugged off talk of retirement after falling to a second defeat in a matter of months to Zhilei Zhang on Saturday evening.
‘The Juggernaut’ arrived at Wembley Arena looking to avenge the first professional loss of his career, suffered back in April when Zhang inflicted significant damage to his right eye.
At 38 and having lost his WBO ‘interim’ heavyweight title crown, the pressure was on. Still, his decision to come in at a career-high weight of over 20st looked to have backfired even seconds into the defeat, with the Brit appearing sluggish.
Read the full story here!
Chris Eubank Jr responds to Joe Joyce knockout with classy message
Chris Eubank Jr moved to praise Joe Joyce following his defeat to Zhilei Zhang on Saturday night inside London’s Wembley Arena.
‘The Juggernaut’ fell to a second defeat to the Chinese heavyweight in a matter of months, fairing worse than his initial sixth-round TKO loss in April.
It took ‘Big Bang’ only three rounds to dispose of the 38-year-old, ending a contest he had dominated from the off with a vicious haymaker.
Read the full story here!
The moment
Knockout of the year contender…
Full fight report
Joe Joyce fell to a second defeat in a matter of months to fearsome Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang on Saturday night.
‘The Juggernaut’ spoke about correcting the “mistakes” that saw him suffer a sixth-round TKO defeat at the Copper Box Arena in April and opted to come in 10lbs heavier than he ever had before for the rematch.
Read Jonathan Gorrie’s full match report here!
Joyce vs Zhang 2: JOYCE DOWN!
Round 3: IT’S OVER!
Joe Joyce STOPPED with a spiteful haymaker in the dying embers of the third round.
An even worse performance this time around from ‘The Juggernaut’…
Joyce vs Zhang 2: Joyce holding on!
Round 3: Zhang is teeing off on Joyce now. The Brit is far too tenative, not throwing anything meaningul at all.
When Zhang steps it up, it’s bad news for Joyce. ‘Big Bang’ is in control.
Joyce vs Zhang 2: Joyce saved by the bell
Round 2: Zhang landing some BIG punches when he comes forward. Joyce took a lot of punishment there.
Walking on to too many shots and not moving quick enough.
Joyce vs Zhang 2: JOYCE caught!
Round 2: Hammer of left hand catches Joyce, who’s wobbling!
Troubled the first real time he’s come forward.
Joyce vs Zhang 2: Tentative start
Round 1: Joyce keeping sensible, moving constantly to avoid giving Zhang the kind of static target he got in the first round.
Already a better start than in April!
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