Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang 2

[Master]

Joe Joyce will face a rematch against Zhilei Zhang in London later this year as he bids to get back on track for a world heavyweight championship fight.

Chinese boxer Zhang delivered a major blow to the Brit’s title dreams in April with a bruising sixth-round stoppage, Joyce’s first defeat of his professional career.

There had been talk of the pair heading to Beijing after the rematch clause was activated, but Joyce’s team have secured Wembley Arena as the venue for this bout on September 23, 2023.

“I’m coming back to take back what’s mine,” 37-year-old Joyce declared with Thursday’s announcement.

“September 23rd I am leaving everything in that ring. No compromises. No underestimating my opponent. Nothing, but a win.”

Zhang, 40, was linked with fighting Tyson Fury after upsetting Joyce to claim the WBO interim heavyweight title, which will again be on the line in September.

Oleksandr Usyk is the current reigning WBO heavyweight champion and the victorious fighter in Zhang vs Joyce 2 could be handed a shot at the belt as the mandatory challenger, amid talk of Usyk fighting Fury later this year.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...69acd68e&ei=16

[Mark TKO]

Fair play going straight back in but I can see same outcome and a career ender along the lines of Price.

[Primo Carnera]

So Joyce gets beat up bad and gets the rematch in his own back yard. Maybe they should tie one of Zhang’s hands behind his back just make sure it’s evened out.

[Spicoli]

Random thought, what is so wrong but at the same time so right about this rematch halfway into 2023. Just two top ten guys who already had many doubters watching other "top" guys with another eye. They took the headlines no one intended for them, game tough scrap and then are running it back immediately.

Look...right now this division is a stagnant joke. Champs in name only barking about fighting mma guys, circus bears or God knows what at this point, former champs talking their way out of mutual and needed top contender match ups and other former champs sitting on the sideline content to wait on some "magical Christmas lottery in Dubai" . It's really quite sad. So glass up for Zhang and Joyce I say. I honestly have more anticipation and respect for the two of them mid 2023 than the rest of the CF of a division.

[Primo Carnera]

Random thought, what is so wrong but at the same time so right about this rematch halfway into 2023. Just two top ten guys who already had many doubters watching other "top" guys with another eye. They took the headlines no one intended for them, game tough scrap and then are running it back immediately.

Look...right now this division is a stagnant joke. Champs in name only barking about fighting mma guys, circus bears or God knows what at this point, former champs talking their way out of mutual and needed top contender match ups and other former champs sitting on the sideline content to wait on some "magical Christmas lottery in Dubai" . It's really quite sad. So glass up for Zhang and Joyce I say. I honestly have more anticipation and respect for the two of them mid 2023 than the rest of the CF of a division.

A lot of good points above. But it comes to something when we feel we have to praise 2 fringe fighters for actually doing what they’re paid to do.
Not just this fight , but it is a perfect example, neither of them is a champion, and there was no controversy, so what the fuck need is there for a rematch ?
The real problem is the governing bodies are weak as piss and are only interested in their commissions.
I watched Carl Froch on YouTube yesterday and although he’s full of self righteous bullshit, every now and again he makes a decent point. He had a list of the top 25 HW’s in the world , and not one of them had a fight scheduled! He acknowledged Jared Anderson fighting Charles Martin this weekend , but Anderson wasn’t on this list.
How the fuck can the division go forward if nobody fights ffs? It’s a fucking disgrace and guess who suffers from it? Yep, the fans.
We’re left to debate whether Fury is better than Usyk or if AJ could beat him blah blah blah.
Total bullshit.

[smartpersona]

Man, this is gonna be a good one! Joyce is out for redemption and ready to give it his all. Zhang obviously put on a stunning performance last time, so we'll see if he can take him the distance this time. Can't wait to see how it all plays out. Ready for September 23!

[Dark Lord Al]

Fair play going straight back in but I can see same outcome and a career ender along the lines of Price.

I have to agree with you Mark, Zhang is all wrong for with wide open slugger Joyce.