Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce II

About Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce II

Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce II was a professional boxing rematch titled "An Eye for An Eye." This fight featured a showdown in the heavyweight division between Chinese WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang and British boxer Joe Joyce. The highly anticipated took place on September 23, 2023, at the Wembley Arena in London, England.

Zhilei Zhang won the fight by landing a devastating right hand that KO'd Joe Joyce in the 3rd round.

In their first encounter, Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang had their clash at the Copper Box Arena located in London, England, on April 15, 2023.

In the sixth round, Zhang emerged victorious over Joyce with a technical knockout, securing the WBO interim heavyweight title previously held by Joyce.

With the WBO interim heavyweight title at stake, an immediate rematch between Zhang and Joyce was confirmed for September 23, 2023, at Wembley Arena in London, England.

Zhilei Zhang currently holds a professional boxing record of 26 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw (26-1-1), whereas Joe Joyce has amassed a record of 15 wins and 2 loss (15-2-0).

Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce II Fight Card

Weight Class	Fight	Method	Round	Result
Heavyweight (Interim WBO Title)	Zhilei Zhang (c) vs. Joe Joyce	KO	3	Zhang def. Joyce
Super Lightweights	Pierce O'Leary vs. Kane Gardner	UD	10	O'Leary def. Gardner
Light Heavyweights	Anthony Yarde vs. Ricky Summers	KO	2	Yarde def. Summers
Lightweights	Sam Noakes vs. Carlos Perez	PTS	6	Noakes def. Perez
Super Middleweights	Zach Parker vs. Khalid Graidia	TKO	7	Parker def. Graidia
Light Heavyweights	Ezra Taylor vs. Joel McIntyre	TKO	8	Taylor def. McIntyre
Super Featherweights	Royston Barney-Smith vs. Engel Gomez	PTS	6	Barney-Smith def. Gomez
Heavyweights	Moses Itauma vs. Amine Boucetta	TKO	1	Itauma def. Boucetta
Cruiserweights	Tommy Fletcher vs. Alberto Tapia	TKO	6	Fletcher def. Tapia

Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang 1

Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang squared off for the first time at the Copper Box Arena in London, England, on April 15, 2023.

In the opening moments of the fight, both fighters exchanged jabs from orthodox and southpaw stances. However, it became evident that Joe Joyce was in for a tough challenge. When they traded power punches, Zhilei Zhang showcased superior speed and precision compared to his slower opponent.

Joyce's renowned durability was put to the test as Zhang landed punishing shots, notably a powerful left that left Joyce visibly shaken in the second round. Zhang even taunted his opponent at the end of the round while Joyce tended to his bloodied nose on the stool.

Despite the anticipation surrounding Joe Joyce's potential to challenge champions like Fury and Usyk, he struggled to defend against Zhang's relentless left-handed attacks. Zhang controlled the pace of the fight, looking far from the fatigued fighter he appeared in his previous bout with Filip Hrgovic. Zhang impressively connected with 56% of his power punches, enjoying his time in the ring.

Joyce's best round came in the fifth, where he increased his output and threw combinations. However, the start of the sixth round saw the doctor check on Joyce's condition. Sensing the urgency to protect his undefeated record, Joyce opened up but left himself vulnerable to punches he couldn't anticipate or evade. After a second medical examination, the upset victory for Zhang was confirmed, leaving the crowd in shock.

Last Updated On September 24, 2023