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

[Teddy's Toupee]

Joyce should never have fought Zhang in the first place and just said he could beat him. Seems to work for Fury and his fans.

[Kilburn]

Wow. This is so different to how I saw it. The referee was definitely right to pull him out in my opinion

And I’m not saying the ref was wrong to do it either. The eye looked horrible. It was a fair result.

But losing on an eye injury (which is why the ref stopped the fight) is not the same as getting knocked out or wilting to the point where you can fight no longer.

That’s where we differ.

I think it is the same as getting knocked out / stopped ….. on the basis that the damage occurred as a result of being soundly outboxed and taking sustained punishment.

Either way you have rendered your opponent unable to continue by outperforming them.

When it is that one sided the damage is coming out somewhere.

I’m not questioning the validity of Zhangs win, he largely outboxed Joyce for the 6 rounds it lasted. He won, the referee did what he felt was right, he stopped the fight because he felt the injury was too severe for the fight to continue. It was fair. The damage was caused by punches.

But when weighing up the rematch, it’s not insignificant to highlight that the fight was scheduled for 12 rounds not 6. And it’s not a stretch to say that Joyce could have continued. Zhang was doing a lot less by the end, Joe wasn’t staggering all over the ring from being hurt, he didn’t appear exhausted / at the end of his tether, and he could still see out of the eye.

Joyce is up against it next Saturday for obvious reasons. But to say the manor of his defeat last time is the same as getting knocked out, simply isn’t true.

[Twinkle Toes]

No one expected Zhang to win, least of all Joyce's team. That's why they took the fight. Ironically it was similar to when Joyce fought Dubois. It wasn't the plan for Joyce to win and sadly for Joyce it was Dubois that went on to get much better paydays.

Weird.

[SeanBrennan]

And I’m not saying the ref was wrong to do it either. The eye looked horrible. It was a fair result.

But losing on an eye injury (which is why the ref stopped the fight) is not the same as getting knocked out or wilting to the point where you can fight no longer.

That’s where we differ.

I think it is the same as getting knocked out / stopped ….. on the basis that the damage occurred as a result of being soundly outboxed and taking sustained punishment.

Either way you have rendered your opponent unable to continue by outperforming them.

When it is that one sided the damage is coming out somewhere.

Joyce did not complain at all. Didn't even look disappointed when the doctor called it.

That's a fair point, but he's not the most emotive fighter even in victory. For me it was good to see someone not whining after.

[Frostieballs]

And I’m not saying the ref was wrong to do it either. The eye looked horrible. It was a fair result.

But losing on an eye injury (which is why the ref stopped the fight) is not the same as getting knocked out or wilting to the point where you can fight no longer.

That’s where we differ.

I think it is the same as getting knocked out / stopped ….. on the basis that the damage occurred as a result of being soundly outboxed and taking sustained punishment.

Either way you have rendered your opponent unable to continue by outperforming them.

When it is that one sided the damage is coming out somewhere.

I’m not questioning the validity of Zhangs win, he largely outboxed Joyce for the 6 rounds it lasted. He won, the referee did what he felt was right, he stopped the fight because he felt the injury was too severe for the fight to continue. It was fair. The damage was caused by punches.

But when weighing up the rematch, it’s not insignificant to highlight that the fight was scheduled for 12 rounds not 6. And it’s not a stretch to say that Joyce could have continued. Zhang was doing a lot less by the end, Joe wasn’t staggering all over the ring from being hurt, he didn’t appear exhausted / at the end of his tether, and he could still see out of the eye.

Joyce is up against it next Saturday for obvious reasons. But to say the manor of his defeat last time is the same as getting knocked out, simply isn’t true.

As I said mate, that’s where we differ. The validity of it is exactly the same to me.

You could argue that had the eye not gone, he could have turned the fight around as Zhang was tiring.

Had he been knocked out with a Hail Mary shot you could similarly argue that had he not been caught - or if his chin was better - he could have turned the fight around.

I think we both agree, however, that he will have to change something!

[Coco]

That’s where we differ.

I think it is the same as getting knocked out / stopped ….. on the basis that the damage occurred as a result of being soundly outboxed and taking sustained punishment.

Either way you have rendered your opponent unable to continue by outperforming them.

When it is that one sided the damage is coming out somewhere.

I’m not questioning the validity of Zhangs win, he largely outboxed Joyce for the 6 rounds it lasted. He won, the referee did what he felt was right, he stopped the fight because he felt the injury was too severe for the fight to continue. It was fair. The damage was caused by punches.

But when weighing up the rematch, it’s not insignificant to highlight that the fight was scheduled for 12 rounds not 6. And it’s not a stretch to say that Joyce could have continued. Zhang was doing a lot less by the end, Joe wasn’t staggering all over the ring from being hurt, he didn’t appear exhausted / at the end of his tether, and he could still see out of the eye.

Joyce is up against it next Saturday for obvious reasons. But to say the manor of his defeat last time is the same as getting knocked out, simply isn’t true.

As I said mate, that’s where we differ. The validity of it is exactly the same to me.

You could argue that had the eye not gone, he could have turned the fight around as Zhang was tiring.

Had he been knocked out with a Hail Mary shot you could similarly argue that had he not been caught - or if his chin was better - he could have turned the fight around.

I think we both agree, however, that he will have to change something!

Bad idea for the same tactics and crossing your fingers that your face holds up

[SeanBrennan]

I’m not questioning the validity of Zhangs win, he largely outboxed Joyce for the 6 rounds it lasted. He won, the referee did what he felt was right, he stopped the fight because he felt the injury was too severe for the fight to continue. It was fair. The damage was caused by punches.

But when weighing up the rematch, it’s not insignificant to highlight that the fight was scheduled for 12 rounds not 6. And it’s not a stretch to say that Joyce could have continued. Zhang was doing a lot less by the end, Joe wasn’t staggering all over the ring from being hurt, he didn’t appear exhausted / at the end of his tether, and he could still see out of the eye.

Joyce is up against it next Saturday for obvious reasons. But to say the manor of his defeat last time is the same as getting knocked out, simply isn’t true.

As I said mate, that’s where we differ. The validity of it is exactly the same to me.

You could argue that had the eye not gone, he could have turned the fight around as Zhang was tiring.

Had he been knocked out with a Hail Mary shot you could similarly argue that had he not been caught - or if his chin was better - he could have turned the fight around.

I think we both agree, however, that he will have to change something!

Bad idea for the same tactics and crossing your fingers that your face holds up

there are weaknesses around the face, lots of scar tissue. I always worry those scars will open up as they're against near-bone. Either way we'll all be watching this fight and I don't think any of us know with any great confidence who the victor who will be.

Zhang must be a massive star in China now. I feel age could catch him though.

I'm aware I am biased towards Joe.

[jwfg]

never went down, but maybe that, and his badly damaged eye, shouldve given him a bit of respect for the power

Yeah.

[jwfg]

I'm aware I am biased towards Joe.

Really? I hadn't noticed.

[SeanBrennan]

I'm aware I am biased towards Joe.

Really? I hadn't noticed.

touche. have a good week.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[maverick23]

So do we have an opponent for Yarde yet?!

[Ruthless-RKO]

So do we have an opponent for Yarde yet?!

Yes..

I read its Ricky Summers

[SeanBrennan]

So do we have an opponent for Yarde yet?!

fighting TBA, one of the most active fighters on the circuit https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/716443

[maverick23]

So do we have an opponent for Yarde yet?!

Yes..

I read its Ricky Summers

I read that he’d pulled out to fight Whittaker. Perhaps that was incorrect.

[Ezzard]

When fight one was made I knew it would be tough after watching Zhang fight Hrg. I was closed down fast here and told it was a cake-walk.

Now it seems that Joyce had no chance and never did.

[tonyevs]

When fight one was made I knew it would be tough after watching Zhang fight Hrg. I was closed down fast here and told it was a cake-walk.

Now it seems that Joyce had no chance and never did.

Care to link it and remind us?

[Coco]

When fight one was made I knew it would be tough after watching Zhang fight Hrg. I was closed down fast here and told it was a cake-walk.

Now it seems that Joyce had no chance and never did.

Care to link it and remind us?

viewtopic.php?p=5854099&hilit=Joyce+zhang#p5854099

[tonyevs]

1 person commented it would be a cake-walk

Plenty were predicting a tough night.

[Kilburn]

I can’t bloody wait.

It’s a big ask for Joyce to look dramatically, or even subtly different to last time. But there are grounds for optimism - Zhang clearly not being a 12 round fighter for one.

I just hope they haven’t tried to do something to Joe’s style that results in him being even more susceptible to those straight lefts.

[jwfg]

Ezra Taylor against Joel McIntyre on the bill. Easy night for Ez?

[Manchester Hitman]

Ezra Taylor against Joel McIntyre on the bill. Easy night for Ez?

I like the look of Taylor - this is a decent step up opponent, so I look forward to seeing what kind of job he can do on him.

[jwfg]

Ezra Taylor against Joel McIntyre on the bill. Easy night for Ez?

I like the look of Taylor - this is a decent step up opponent, so I look forward to seeing what kind of job he can do on him.

No chance McIntyre pulls it off?

[margaret thatcher]

When fight one was made I knew it would be tough after watching Zhang fight Hrg. I was closed down fast here and told it was a cake-walk.

Now it seems that Joyce had no chance and never did.

if i recall the forum was generally pretty excited about the fight, though a few thought it was easy for joyce

[Kilburn]

When fight one was made I knew it would be tough after watching Zhang fight Hrg. I was closed down fast here and told it was a cake-walk.

Now it seems that Joyce had no chance and never did.

if i recall the forum was generally pretty excited about the fight, though a few thought it was easy for joyce

Yes I recall being surprised at the general reaction on here. I was definitely in the minority in not recognising the potential threat that Zhang was.