Big Zhang KOs Joyce

IT WAS A ONE PUNCH KO

Zhilei Zhang finished Joe Joyce in three in their rematch fight in London.

The WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion, popular Big Chinese Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei, continued to make history by knocking out Englishman Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce in three rounds Saturday, September 23, at the Wembley Arena in London, England.

Zhang’s finish was brilliant. It unfolded at the end of the third stanza. The popular Chinese launched a right hook of enormous power, which crashed into Joyce’s jaw, sending him sprawling to the blue canvas.

Joe Joyce tried to stand up, while hearing the protection count.

But referee Steve Gray decided to halt the battle as Joyce was clearly in not position to continue.

Officially, the end came at the 3:00 minutes mark in the third.

It was Big Zhang second win over the friendly always well-behaved Joyce.

Because on April 15, Zhang defeated Joyce decisively, knocking him out in six chapters, depriving him of his WBO heavyweight interim title.

Saturday, Zhang used fewer rounds to finish off Joyce, who arrived 25 heavier, in theory stronger and better trained under the direction of Cuban Ismael Salas.

Maybe it was a bad idea as Joe Joyce indeed look slower than in April.

But the result was the same: Zhang eventually taking control of the fight and stopping Joe Joyce, one of the fighters of promoter Frank Warren.

The first round was a lot of study. Both fighters working with their jabs, trying to set the distance and pick up the pace, with better work from Zhang punching to the body.

There was ample respect between both fighters.

Zhang was much better in the second, coming-in with tough combinations onto Joyce’s face.

Zhang hit harder, being more precise and devastating against Joyce who responded very little.

The Englishman looked red in his left eye.

In the third, Zhang began to harshly land his hands, coming-up with precise blows, getting his power punches thru, delivering one big right hook that finished the slow Joe Joyce off.

With this resounding victory in London, Zhang improves his record to 26-1-1, with 21 knockouts, while “Juggernaut” Joyce fell to 15-2, with 14 knockouts.

After the fight, Zhang asked the crowd: “Do you want to see me shut up Tyson Fury?”

Would you like to see Fury vs Zhang?

We would.

About Author