Round-by-Round: Joe Joyce vs. Zhang Zhilei | BT Sport - 15 April 2023

[handsofstone]

Would pay good money to see Zhang turn Chisora into a cabbage once and for all, good servant to the sport but a horrible human being and far too entitled, although I suppose when you've got a lot of belt holders ducking, dodging and pricing themselves out of serious tests and big fights then its really no surprise plonkers like Del Boy have a god complex despite losing nearly every big fight they've ever had

Jesus, did Del bang your missus?

Why would you wish that on anyone?

Some of still remember him battering his ex Mrs and holding her against her will, not to mention his constant aggressive manner he carries around everywhere he goes, he's a worst cnvt

[jamesmcdonnell]

Did he? Wasnt aware of that.

Still wouldnt want to see him battered into permanent disability myself.

[mickey1975]

Strange really, the forum doesn’t rate Parker or Dubois at all yet had Joyce on a pedestal. Was it the Hammer win, that also saw him take loads of flush shots?

[tonyevs]

Zhang couldn't miss with the left and busted Joyce up early on. Joyce threw a lot of leather, but it wasn't well schooled. A lot of it was hitting the arms. Zhang never once looked troubled where as Joyce was hurt to head and body. The reality is he lost to a nearly 40 yeard old and of course he will come back but to me it looks like his moment has passed.

I think these heavys are all at a point when anything can happen. They are fighting against age as much as anything else.

Agreed. Against the lighter hitters like Parker his Homer Simpson defence may be enough to be able to wear an opponent down - but against a quality puncher like Zhang its always going to be a gamble of getting damaged before the opponent gasses.

And of course. When a near 40 year old beats another near 40 yr old who most saying is the biggest threat in the division says it all about the division at the moment.

[leejonesjnr]

Zhang couldn't miss with the left and busted Joyce up early on. Joyce threw a lot of leather, but it wasn't well schooled. A lot of it was hitting the arms. Zhang never once looked troubled where as Joyce was hurt to head and body. The reality is he lost to a nearly 40 yeard old and of course he will come back but to me it looks like his moment has passed.

I think these heavys are all at a point when anything can happen. They are fighting against age as much as anything else.

Agreed. Against the lighter hitters like Parker his Homer Simpson defence may be enough to be able to wear an opponent down - but against a quality puncher like Zhang its always going to be a gamble of getting damaged before the opponent gasses.

And of course. When a near 40 year old beats another near 40 yr old who most saying is the biggest threat in the division says it all about the division at the moment.

WELL… I feel like Zhang is 39 in the same way that Ortiz is 44

[handsofstone]

Did he? Wasnt aware of that.

Still wouldnt want to see him battered into permanent disability myself.

Me neither tbf but a broken jaw and maybe a few broken ribs would suffice, I find him deplorable

[jamesmcdonnell]

Strange really, the forum doesn’t rate Parker or Dubois at all yet had Joyce on a pedestal. Was it the Hammer win, that also saw him take loads of flush shots?

I think many, myself included, were starting to think he was unbreakable, and was just going to keep on grinding people down. His win over Parker was pretty impressive.

I do wonder if he was caught a bit cold by Zhang, he didn't seem to look as hurt after the 2nd round, although that's probably because his own output went up, and Zhang's went down as a consequence.

The myth of his invincibility is gone now, whuich will give his opponents much more confidence from here on in.

I can't see him winning a genuine world title now, not unless he gets a real gift for a vacant belt.

I also think that swollen eye will come back to dog him, at 37 scar tissue heals much much more slowly, and less completely.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I did find it funny that they never brought Whyte back.

[polecateddy]

Strange really, the forum doesn’t rate Parker or Dubois at all yet had Joyce on a pedestal. Was it the Hammer win, that also saw him take loads of flush shots?

I think many, myself included, were starting to think he was unbreakable, and was just going to keep on grinding people down. His win over Parker was pretty impressive.

I do wonder if he was caught a bit cold by Zhang, he didn't seem to look as hurt after the 2nd round, although that's probably because his own output went up, and Zhang's went down as a consequence.

The myth of his invincibility is gone now, whuich will give his opponents much more confidence from here on in.

I can't see him winning a genuine world title now, not unless he gets a real gift for a vacant belt.

I also think that swollen eye will come back to dog him, at 37 scar tissue heals much much more slowly, and less completely.

It’s certainly seemed obvious by Carl Thompson v Eubank 2, that no matter how well Eubank fought the eye would keep going. Joyce seems to now be very similar.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Strange really, the forum doesn’t rate Parker or Dubois at all yet had Joyce on a pedestal. Was it the Hammer win, that also saw him take loads of flush shots?

I think many, myself included, were starting to think he was unbreakable, and was just going to keep on grinding people down. His win over Parker was pretty impressive.

I do wonder if he was caught a bit cold by Zhang, he didn't seem to look as hurt after the 2nd round, although that's probably because his own output went up, and Zhang's went down as a consequence.

The myth of his invincibility is gone now, whuich will give his opponents much more confidence from here on in.

I can't see him winning a genuine world title now, not unless he gets a real gift for a vacant belt.

I also think that swollen eye will come back to dog him, at 37 scar tissue heals much much more slowly, and less completely.

It’s certainly seemed obvious by Carl Thompson v Eubank 2, that no matter how well Eubank fought the eye would keep going. Joyce seems to now be very similar.

Had eubank had an eye injury prior to the 1st thompson fight? I think he did against benn in their 1st fight, and maybe watson too....

I had noticed in other joyce fights he looked pretty marked up post bout, so he probably bruises faitly easily.

I hope he doesnt need surgery, either way that eyes going to need time to heal. I like Joyce, brave as they come, doesnt chat shite, and a class act, he was over like a shot to congratate zhang, didnt complain about the stoppage - and ive seen fighters allowed to continue with worse swellings, and he was defijitely still competetive.

Hope he can get othet big fights

[JamesPhilips]

I noticed he said ‘nah fuc ked’ to his trainer and he just said the same to Francis Warren.


I was going to post before the fight that I expect an ‘injury’ to happen at some point this year, so I’m he can get back on some kind of program if you know what I mean. It’s so common I just can’t believe people can’t see that this is how our guys get away with it.

Very interesting point

[KiwiRider]

It was hard to watch a fairly decent guy like Joyce take so many flush shots to the head.
Exciting fight, don't get me wrong, but like Adam Kownacki's face first defense being exposed by the Viking twice, I feel that may be the same outcome for Joyce - should he ask for a rematch.

[chinarich]

It was hard to watch a fairly decent guy like Joyce take so many flush shots to the head.
Exciting fight, don't get me wrong, but like Adam Kownacki's face first defense being exposed by the Viking twice, I feel that may be the same outcome for Joyce - should he ask for a rematch.

Completely agree. I said on one of the other threads knocking about that the rematch will probably have the same result. Joyce is a lot better than Kownacki but there are similarities in their styles and they've both met someone who has their number. Not sure where Joyce goes from here, he could get a confidence building win over Chisora but I can't see him having the time to work his way back to a mandatory position. With his punishment heavy style I wouldn't want him to stay in the game much longer.

[polecateddy]

Probably one of many reasons why people shouldn’t still be a professional boxer in their late 30’s I guess includes people’s faces really having enough of being punched. Not to mention brains.

[KiwiRider]

Probably one of many reasons why people shouldn’t still be a professional boxer in their late 30’s I guess includes people’s faces really having enough of being punched. Not to mention brains.

The latest research backs that up.
The brain tends to shrink a bit at that age and can bobble about in the fluid causing more bruising than in younger people.

[Glass Joe]

[KiwiRider]

Hrg, boxing's most ignored contender, finally trys a bit of self promotion.
Good on him.

[polecateddy]

If Fury, Usyk and Joshua remain the big three, there’s definitely a lot more movement in the ranks below them than previously imagined. Joyce has basically dropped like a stone, and just might have way too much wear and tear to be that competitive.

[THEBUTCH]

One loss guys, let's not write him off just yet

One good win and he's back in play. We also see many boxers get "world" title shots on the back of losses.

It was an injury loss (but let me be clear that it was a 100% kosher win for Zhang) and any half decent promoter can spin that. Plenty of boxers who have suffered much more emphatic stoppage loses have pulled a million excuses out of their arse holes

[Coco]

One loss guys, let's not write him off just yet

One good win and he's back in play. We also see many boxers get "world" title shots on the back of losses.

It was an injury loss (but let me be clear that it was a 100% kosher win for Zhang) and any half decent promoter can spin that. Plenty of boxers who have suffered much more emphatic stoppage loses have pulled a million excuses out of their arse holes

Exactly that

[Coco]

Seen a couple of clips with Francis Warren, didn't seem at all disappointed, maybe Zhang has signed a contract!
Maybe that makes a Fury fight more likely.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Seen a couple of clips with Francis Warren, didn't seem at all disappointed, maybe Zhang has signed a contract!
Maybe that makes a Fury fight more likely.

They have options on Zhang’s next fights.

[coneye]

Would pay good money to see Zhang turn Chisora into a cabbage once and for all, good servant to the sport but a horrible human being and far too entitled, although I suppose when you've got a lot of belt holders ducking, dodging and pricing themselves out of serious tests and big fights then its really no surprise plonkers like Del Boy have a god complex despite losing nearly every big fight they've ever had

Well i supose theres not really much point in disliking someone , may has well go all the way and hate them .

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

well, zhang was lighting him up again in the 6th. shot after shot stinging joe before foster took him for the final doctor visit. joe had become too damaged even if it went on. zhang known for his poor stamina, but seemed to be pacing himself and had his gas tank under control enough that he could at least put in some more good rounds. those left hands could barely miss and joe was not liking it at all in there, very different body language than usual