Zhilei Zhang Pulls Off An Upset By Stopping Joe Joyce In The Sixth Round
In his quest for a world championship title opportunity, Joe Joyce experienced a significant setback when he faced a shocking sixth-round-stoppage loss against Zhilei Zhang to lose his WBO interim belt.
In the opening round, Zhang stunned Joyce with a powerful left hook. The Chinese penetrated Joyce’s guard again with a powerful uppercut that jolted the Juggernauts’ head backward.
In the second, Zhang nearly knocked Joyce down with a powerful right-left combo, causing him to stagger towards the ropes. Joyce’s nose started to bleed from the sustained attacks, and his eye began to swell.
Joyce aimed to start faster, but Zhang continued to be an equal competitor, delivering another massive left hook against Joyce’s famously resilient jaw.
Zhang persistently battered Joyce’s face, compelling him to endure an additional precise combo prior to being pushed aside by a crisp left hook as the round concluded.
During the break in rounds, the referee requested Joyce’s team to examine his eye on two occasions.
The referee had to call it off ✅
Joe Joyce's eye was not in the best way ❌#FightNight | #JoyceZhang | 📺 BT Sport 1 pic.twitter.com/I4qox7QEgK
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) April 15, 2023
The referee ultimately had to intervene and call off the bout, giving Zhang a shocking victory, who now becomes the mandatory to face Oleksandr Usyk.
Post Fights Comments
"It's disappointing, I expected to win like I normally do"
"I will be back"
Joe Joyce reflects on a tough defeat…💭#FightNight | #JoyceZhang | 📺 BT Sport 1 pic.twitter.com/jNVxPOzeMU
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) April 15, 2023
“I am disappointed with my performance. It was a good fight, but I could have done better. “I have not fought against a southpaw for so long. Credit to him.
“He is a good fighter and I gave it my all. But I expected to win. I would like to apologise to all my fans and my supporters. I will be back and my journey is not over,” Joyce
The New WBO Interim World Heavyweight Champion 🏆
Zhilei Zhang takes it 👏#FightNight | #JoyceZhang | 📺 BT Sport 1 pic.twitter.com/9nDzidCiSX
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) April 15, 2023
“Today is mine. Today belongs to me, belongs to everyone who showed up, belongs to every Chinese who showed up. I’m 39 years old, but I’m disciplined, I train hard and next step I go for the title,” Zhang
Official Result: Zhilei Zhang def. Joe Joyce via a sixth-round TKO
Co-Main Event
Mikaela Mayer (18-1, 5 KOs) made a triumphant comeback, overcoming her last-minute replacement, Lucy Wildheart (10-2, 4 KOs) in an unexpectedly close ten-round unanimous verdict to win the WBC interim world lightweight championship.
In the initial stages of the bout, Mayer experienced difficulty as she received numerous right-hands from Wildheart.
However, during the latter half of the contest, Wildheart became exhausted, resulting in a decrease in the power behind her punches.
Overall, it wasn’t an impressive showing by Mayer, as her inadequate defense was concerning as a fight with Katie Taylor looks some way off.
Bounce back game strong. @MikaelaMayer1 x #MayerWildheart pic.twitter.com/q4mptoSThJ
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) April 15, 2023
Official Result: Mikaela Mayer def. Lucy Wildheart via a unanimous decision: 98-92, 100-90, 98-91
Main Card
Moses Itauma def. K. Dovbyshchenko on points: 60-54
Itauma dominates again 💪
The most exciting heavyweight prospect around gets some valuable rounds under his belt, earning a points victory over a tough Dovbyshchenko ✍️#JoyceZhang | Now | Live on @btsport pic.twitter.com/CAfF9KoiXG
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 15, 2023
Sam Noakes def. Karthik Sathish Kumar via TKO/KO in the second round
Too hot to handle 🔥@SamNoakes3 secures a comfortable victory over Karthik Sathish Kumar ✅#FightNight | #JoyceZhang | 📺 BT Sport 1 pic.twitter.com/eWHJ0tJoAR
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) April 15, 2023
Denzel Bentley def. Kieran Smith via TKO/KO in the first round
THAT WAS LETHAL! 🤯@2Sharp_d ends the contest early in the first round ✨#FightNight | #JoyceZhang | 📺 BT Sport 1 pic.twitter.com/kjJFerVVka
— Boxing on BT Sport 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) April 15, 2023
Eithan James def. Georgi Velichkov on points: 60-54
Points Victory! ✍️@eithanjames1 outboxes Georgi Velichkov from start to finish and moves to 11-0, showing why he’s more than ready to take the step up to world level 🌎#JoyceZhang | Now | Live on @btsport pic.twitter.com/bxJ40ICeQa
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 15, 2023
Preliminary Results
Sonny Ali def. Richard Helm on points: 60-54
🤩 @Sonnylistonali_ moves to 6-0!
The man holding the best name in boxing earns a points victory over Richard Helm, putting on a stylish performance throughout 👏#JoyceZhang | Now | Live on BT Sport pic.twitter.com/IHc15gUEqz
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 15, 2023
Freezy MacBones def. Darryl Sharp on points: 40-36
🗣️ “You nearly knocked me out in round one!”
Respect between @freezy_macbones and Darryl Sharp after their fight 🤝
Watch the undercard live 👉 https://t.co/YSsNohzVab…#JoyceZhang | 7pm | Live on @btsport pic.twitter.com/ZOkkb2Bf4U
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 15, 2023
Joel Kodua def. Dale Arrowsmith on points: 40-36
🦍 The Gorilla moves to 2-0!@joel_fk_ dominates from start to finish to earn victory 👏
Watch the undercard live 👉 https://t.co/mGuldhx64q#JoyceZhang | 7pm | Live on @btsport pic.twitter.com/lAjISTo8wd
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) April 15, 2023