Copper Box Arena: London, England
In his backyard, Joe Joyce looked to defend his WBO Interim Heavyweight strap, and to keep his perfect record going. However, Zhilei Zhang enters the next tier in the division thanks to a good doctor stoppage. Thanks to a powerful pinpoint left hand that shut “The Juggernaut’s” right eye 1:23 into round six.
Afterwards Joyce said:
“I haven’t fought a southpaw for so long. Credit to him. He’s a good fighter. It’s just disappointing I expected to win like I normally do”.
The massive upset for the Chinese 39-year old now puts him as a mandatory for Oleksandr Usyk. Although in boxing mandatory only means you’re on line, not necessarily next. From early on his left hand found a home on Joyce as did his combos, as the Englishman seemed to be stuck in the mud.
Joyce finally awoke in the third-round, but by then damage had been done. Even though his granite chin kept him upright, Zhang had answers for anything thrown his way. Referee Howard Foster brought the doctor in to check Joyce, with the doctor telling him to put the fighter on a short leash.
When he was brought in again in the sixth, both had seen enough.
Zhang Enters The Next Tier… So Who’s Actually Next
Neither Joyce or Zhang at this point have faced the tip-top of the division. Through no fault of their own. Daniel Dubois is in the same boat. And should they be able to square off the winner could go on to face Andy Ruiz Jr.. And despite him nearing the age of 40, and on possibly his last run, Zhang has the tools to beat both. Dubois who has lost to Joyce is a fighter with very clean punches. But the southpaw could give him some problems. Plus Zhang’s ring-IQ is often underrated.
And should Ruiz be his next opponent, it would be polarizing styles, making it a real fun fight. Of course that depends if Ruiz’s head is on straight. Ruiz has the foot speed and hand speed advantage. If he can stay on his bike, tiring out the “Big Bang” is absolutely more than a possibility. And since Ruiz lost back the belts, he’s been on a hunt to get them back. And this would be his best option. However, Zhang’s 19-knockouts also thought they could tire him out too.
So that would be the best match-up to do next. It has the most on the line for both fighters. Could Zhang really flip the boxing world by beating Usyk? Sure. But as disciplined as Zhang is, Usyk is a far other level. And the undisputed champion can find the smallest opening. But getting inside the long range of Zhang wouldn’t be the easiest thing in the world to do.
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