JOE Joyce’s remarkable heavyweight odyssey could come to an abrupt and premature end this weekend should his rematch with China’s Zhilei Zhang go the same way as their first fight.
The two former Olympic silver medallists collide at Wembley Arena, five months on from Zhang’s surprisingly efficient sixth round TKO victory, knowing defeat all but ends either man’s championship aspirations.
In a weight class where world title opportunities are increasingly few and far between – the heavyweight division is contributing just one title fight in 2023 – Saturday’s loser faces a career dream unfulfilled.
THE JUGGERNAUT
Joyce, who turned 38 on Wednesday, has been on one of the most captivating journeys in modern day British boxing.
After being a political casualty at the Rio 2016 Olympics, he turned pro with a run of truly competitive matchups enroute to 15 straight wins.
He left a plethora of champions and contenders in his wake as he collected British, Commonwealth and European honours – all whilst being the butt of jokes regarding his cumbersome nature inside and outside the ring.
🥊 Will the late rounds be key to @joejoyceboxing potential to beat Zhilei Zhang in the rematch!#ZhangJoyce2 | Saturday | 🎟 via https://t.co/qrdxqhUZox pic.twitter.com/FKRKFNjg09
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) September 19, 2023
Eventually, Joyce’s equanimous personality and brutally effective style won fans and media over and, by the time he defeated former world champion Joseph Parker in September, he had become both fan favourite and ranked contender.
With Anthony Joshua wavering, Tyson Fury evading and former Joyce victim Daniel Dubois still growing (emotionally, at least), ‘The Juggernaut’s time had come to step up to the big time.
BIG BANG
Ranked as #1 contender for one of the championship belts held by Oleksandr Usyk, Joyce’s world title aspirations look set to be realised after talks between the Ukrainian and Fury were counted out at the start of the year.
But by then he’d already signed on to face Zhang at the Copper Box.
China’s ‘Big Bang’ was himself reeling from a very contentious first defeat as a pro, courtesy of some contentious scorecards against Filip Hrgovic on the AJ-Usyk 2 undercard in Saudi Arabia last summer.
That ended an unbeaten 25-fight start in the pro ranks for Zhang, but also it a fire inside the New Jersey based man mountain to ensure the same didn’t happen again in London.
👀 Aiming for Joe's eye again!
Zhilei Zhang has his game plan ready for next Saturday, watch the full interview as Big Bang arrives in London: https://t.co/BTMDwbDmNq#ZhangJoyce | 23.09.23 | 🎟 via https://t.co/qrdxqhUZox pic.twitter.com/zCfNGcIMC5
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) September 15, 2023
Just weeks before he turned 40, the southpaw couldn’t miss in April. His ramrod jab busted Joyce up from the opening bell, whilst his back hand left landed almost every time it was thrown.
This week, Zhang arrived in London standing far taller than even his six-foot-six frame.
Joyce may have been stopped due to damage to his right eye but, in reality, he was beaten up and broken by the better man in April.
To realise his revenge Joyce has to be sharper, heavier, more compact defensively and far less amenable to taking punches than he was last time out.
Big Joe has the engine to run through any man inside the ring.
But no chin is infallible and similar tactics than before will simply rescue Zhang’s championship career and abandon Joyce to heavyweight boxing’s abyss.
TIP: Joyce on Points
WIN TICKETS
Zhang vs Joyce II is going to be explosive, with the WBO Interim title – and a possible shot at world glory – up-for-grabs on an exhilarating night of action at Wembley.
Two big men. Two heavy hitters. One winner. Can Joyce avenge the only defeat of his professional career, or will Zhang be an obstacle too far?
Watch history unfold LIVE as destiny is fulfilled and dreams crushed in our free-to-enter competition. Will YOU win this knockout prize?
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