Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce II | TNT Sport - 23 September 2023

[polecateddy]

Translated to Joyce is looking terrible in training and has zero chance of winning the fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

New date set.

23rd September

[tony1234]

New date set.

23rd September

Any reason given ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

New date set.

23rd September

Any reason given ?

No idea.. maybe the previous date wasn’t set in stone or they wanted a certain arena.

[Manchester Hitman]

Set of stones on Joyce. Actually both guys are top men - Zhang was brilliant entertainment in fight week, even though he barely speaks any English.

Good luck to both fighters.

[Coco]

I'm a big fan of Big Bang, I think he gives everyone problems, I think they are all looking at easier options

[oogiebe]

I think Big Joe stops him this time. Will wear him out as this fight will go longer.

[matt3m]

[Ruthless-RKO]

At least they not calling it the typical “Repeat or Revenge”

Overused name.

[big lennox]

It will be another belting fight, I think. Both guys come across extremely well. Hopefully, Joe can protect that eye and apply educated pressure of wear Zhang down.

It says a lot about both fighters that they boxed each other in the first place and now again. I hope they are getting paid handsomely for their endeavours.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

HEAVYWEIGHT GIANTS Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce are all set for a highly anticipated rematch at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday, September 23, live on TNT Sports.

Tickets go on general sale at midday on Friday 30 June (tomorrow) from AXS.com.

Big Bang Zhang and Juggernaut Joyce first collided in mid-April at the Copper Box Arena, where it was Zhang who left the venue in possession of the WBO Interim Heavyweight World Championship strap.

Referee Howard Foster stopped the fight in the sixth round due to the heavy swelling around the right eye of defending champion Joyce.

The Chinese hero Zhang lived up to his stage name in Stratford, ending the unbeaten professional record of the fellow Olympic silver medallist.

New York-based Zhang, 25-1-1 (20 KOs), turned in a career-best performance in London to elevate himself into challenging the elite band of heavyweights, but first he must once again repel the powerful advances of Joyce, 15-1 (14 KOs), who will be determined to regain his lost property and place himself back at the top of the WBO rankings.

“I created history last time,” said Zhang. “And I believe the best way to inherit history is to create new ones. I look at the rematch as if it was a new fight; I look at Joe Joyce as if I never fought him before. I started from zero and this is the new self.”

“I’m coming back to take back what’s mine,” declared Joyce. “September 2nd I am leaving everything in that ring. No compromises. No underestimating my opponent. Nothing, but a win.

“Last time out I lost my undefeated professional record. It was hard to take. But after the dust settled, all that will do is make me better. I’ve learned lessons. I’m ready. And I am coming for everything.”

“This is a fight with high stakes written all over it,” stated promoter allegedly. “The first fight in April was the best heavyweight fight made this year and I am expecting more of the same at the OVO Arena on September 23.

“Joe will acknowledge that Zhilei did a number on him at the Copper Box and he has a lot to work on to put it right. But he knows what he has got to do, and his immediate future depends on him regaining his position as WBO Interim world champion.

“Thankfully, for Joe’s sake, the rotation system for mandatory challenges with the governing bodies means the WBO contender against the unified champion has yet to be called, so victory in September will put Joe right back in the frame to fight whoever emerges victorious out of the current champion Oleksandr Usyk and his next challenger, Daniel Dubois.

“This is why the stakes are so incredibly high for both fighters and I hope and expect that Wembley will be packed to the rafters for such a significant heavyweight match.”

[MasterG]

Tickets just gone on sale. Got 4 for £75 each. Top tier again.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zhilei Zhang: "After Joe Joyce, Fighting Tyson Fury Would Be My Next Target"

"Last time I made history, the best inheritance of history is to create new history," Zhang told CGTN Europe.

"Creating a new history of the Chinese in the field of boxing is my mission and my original intention. People always think Chinese boxing can't produce heavyweight boxers, and Chinese boxing can't compete with European and American boxing. I don't agree. I believe Chinese boxing will definitely occupy the most central position on the international stage.”

"We don't have a long term plan at the moment, our focus is still the battle with Joyce. After Joyce, fighting with Tyson Fury would be my next target,” Zhang said.

Last week, Joyce vowed to get revenge when he faces Zhang for a second time.

"I'm coming back to take back what's mine," Joyce said. "September 23 I am leaving everything in that ring. No compromises. No underestimating my opponent. Nothing but a win.

"Last time out I lost my undefeated professional record. It was hard to take. But after the dust settled, all that will do is make me better. I've learned lessons. I'm ready. And I am coming for everything.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yarde makes his ring return in this card.

Probably be a Romanian bus driver though..

Eliminator did the WBO belt..

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Rockytony67]

[maley1984]

Yarde is a disgrace. Fighting the English champ on the back of fighting for a world title. I'd love it if summers beats him.

[Glass Joe]

Yarde is a disgrace. Fighting the English champ on the back of fighting for a world title. I'd love it if summers beats him.

yarde only britsh level so makes sense

im probably in the minority but yarde hasn't beaten anyone above British level he's just fight around British title level then get thrown in the deep end against a top fighter there's no in-between

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yarde is a disgrace. Fighting the English champ on the back of fighting for a world title. I'd love it if summers beats him.

yarde only britsh level so makes sense

im probably in the minority but yarde hasn't beaten anyone above British level he's just fight around British title level then get thrown in the deep end against a top fighter there's no in-between

That’s exactly what he’s done.

[gregregegg]

The guy went to a split decision with Dan azeez couple years ago, so he can’t be that bad. Also never stopped with 12 round experience.

Still a monster step down but not like when he went to Spain and beat up an absolute no hoper

[Manchester Hitman]

Yarde is a disgrace. Fighting the English champ on the back of fighting for a world title. I'd love it if summers beats him.

This is an over reaction. Summers is better than the average euro knock over. Yarde turned down Dos Santos for the European and I would pick Ricky to beat that guy.

Summers has never been stopped and gave Azezz a decent scrap a few years ago.

It’s not great fight, but ok after a really gruelling war against Beterbiev. They cant just throw him back to another really hard one straight away,

[Sweet Dick Willie]

Edit: made a stupid drunken comment...

[wrighty]

Yarde is a disgrace. Fighting the English champ on the back of fighting for a world title. I'd love it if summers beats him.

I'm sure i read that he was eligible to fight for the European belt dropped by Azeez against some Santos fella?

What's he doing taking this?