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

[jameswilson]

Apparently Joyce is listening to all the experts who said he was daft to come in so light in the last fight.

I’m sticking my neck on the line and saying this is a daft idea. If he comes in 20lbs heavier how is he gonna be more mobile and get out the way of the shots.

[The Gratest]

Increased juggernaughtism? Chubbier cheeks and eye sockets?

[Frostieballs]

Apparently Joyce is listening to all the experts who said he was daft to come in so light in the last fight.

I’m sticking my neck on the line and saying this is a daft idea. If he comes in 20lbs heavier how is he gonna be more mobile and get out the way of the shots.

I don’t think he’s going to.

I reckon he thinks he needs to make it more of a war because that’s all he knows.

I reckon he’s coming in swinging big shots from the off, with the plan of getting Zhang out of there, before he can do it to him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[unknownman79]

Both huge weights. Both will go for it again early.

[stevec@france]

Apparently Joyce is listening to all the experts who said he was daft to come in so light in the last fight.

I’m sticking my neck on the line and saying this is a daft idea. If he comes in 20lbs heavier how is he gonna be more mobile and get out the way of the shots.

I don’t think he’s going to.

I reckon he thinks he needs to make it more of a war because that’s all he knows.

I reckon he’s coming in swinging big shots from the off, with the plan of getting Zhang out of there, before he can do it to him.

yes I agree - all the talk of going 12 rounds etc is smoke and mirror stuff .
JJ has to stick it on him asap and get him out otherwise zang goes to work on the right eye again which cant be fully healed and wont stake a lot to damage again .

[tony1234]

Both huge weights. Both will go for it again early.

Joyce 20st 1lb
Zhang 20st 7lb

Plenty of beef there, not going to be a pretty sight

[Blueprint]

Zhang has the quicker hands, so if its a shootout i fear for Joyce.

[deadpan]

I think his chin gives way once the eye closes earlier. Hope I'm wrong.

[Kilburn]

Apparently Joyce is listening to all the experts who said he was daft to come in so light in the last fight.

I’m sticking my neck on the line and saying this is a daft idea. If he comes in 20lbs heavier how is he gonna be more mobile and get out the way of the shots.

I suspect Joyce sees considerably more value in feeling like a stronger version of himself, over trying to become a more mobile target.

He clearly believes he can wear Zhang down. This is going to be some tense first bell moment tomorrow night.

[tonyevs]

Has Joyce ever weighed this heavy?

[magnus]

Yarde's opponent, Christ almighty.

I thought his team might have learned when they said that experience cost him against Beterbiev, clearly they think that just means bouts rather than meaningful fights against contenders/fringe world class opposition.

Why do so many British fighters come back from defeat at world level by dropping so many levels? Parker's done similar on this card.

[margaret thatcher]

gawd damn those weights, although they are both huge bois so neither look like fat arses even nearing 300 pounds

[margaret thatcher]

yarde's opponent , ffs anthony havent you crushed enough cans

[maverick23]

Yarde's opponent, Christ almighty.

I thought his team might have learned when they said that experience cost him against Beterbiev, clearly they think that just means bouts rather than meaningful fights against contenders/fringe world class opposition.

Why do so many British fighters come back from defeat at world level by dropping so many levels? Parker's done similar on this card.

He’s naturally a lower weight and much lower quality too. A natural middleweight in Kieran Conway won every round against him at 168 not so long ago.

They’ve known Summers won’t be fighting for c.2 weeks now. Surely they can do better than this?!

[Frostieballs]

Apparently Joyce is listening to all the experts who said he was daft to come in so light in the last fight.

I’m sticking my neck on the line and saying this is a daft idea. If he comes in 20lbs heavier how is he gonna be more mobile and get out the way of the shots.

I don’t think he’s going to.

I reckon he thinks he needs to make it more of a war because that’s all he knows.

I reckon he’s coming in swinging big shots from the off, with the plan of getting Zhang out of there, before he can do it to him.

yes I agree - all the talk of going 12 rounds etc is smoke and mirror stuff .
JJ has to stick it on him asap and get him out otherwise zang goes to work on the right eye again which cant be fully healed and wont stake a lot to damage again .

This is going to be absolute carnage.

Rather than try to be more mobile, Joyce has decided he needs to be exactly the opposite and stick to what has worked in the past.

I have changed my opinion in the last few days and am going for a very brave Joyce to win inside 5!!

[jwfg]

Yarde's opponent, Christ almighty.

I thought his team might have learned when they said that experience cost him against Beterbiev, clearly they think that just means bouts rather than meaningful fights against contenders/fringe world class opposition.

Why do so many British fighters come back from defeat at world level by dropping so many levels? Parker's done similar on this card.

He’s naturally a lower weight and much lower quality too. A natural middleweight in Kieran Conway won every round against him at 168 not so long ago.

They’ve known Summers won’t be fighting for c.2 weeks now. Surely they can do better than this?!

They can, but that's not the point of the exercise,

[Kilburn]

I don’t think he’s going to.

I reckon he thinks he needs to make it more of a war because that’s all he knows.

I reckon he’s coming in swinging big shots from the off, with the plan of getting Zhang out of there, before he can do it to him.

yes I agree - all the talk of going 12 rounds etc is smoke and mirror stuff .
JJ has to stick it on him asap and get him out otherwise zang goes to work on the right eye again which cant be fully healed and wont stake a lot to damage again .

This is going to be absolute carnage.

Rather than try to be more mobile, Joyce has decided he needs to be exactly the opposite and stick to what has worked in the past.

I have changed my opinion in the last few days and am going for a very brave Joyce to win inside 5!!

That’s the spirit Frostie, come on!

[Frostieballs]

yes I agree - all the talk of going 12 rounds etc is smoke and mirror stuff .
JJ has to stick it on him asap and get him out otherwise zang goes to work on the right eye again which cant be fully healed and wont stake a lot to damage again .

This is going to be absolute carnage.

Rather than try to be more mobile, Joyce has decided he needs to be exactly the opposite and stick to what has worked in the past.

I have changed my opinion in the last few days and am going for a very brave Joyce to win inside 5!!

That’s the spirit Frostie, come on!

Eye damage won’t come into this!!

It’s all coming down to chins!

[Twinkle Toes]

Never seen Joyce loook so bad on the scales

[gilgamesh]

The last time these guys fought the speed, and accuracy difference was so overwhelmingly different...I don't see Joyce overcoming that. It's not as if Zhang is small, and likely to be overwhelmed by Joyce just because he's added some weight. If anything Joyce may just be even slower, and catch even more shots from Zhang.

I don't see this going the way Joyce wants it to.

[Kilburn]

I believe Joyce has chosen to come in heavy for no other reason than it gives him greater confidence for the battle ahead. He certainly seems happy as ever. Maybe he has ballsed up, not long now until we find out.

Let’s not overlook that Zhang has come in 10 pounds heavier himself, what’s that about? (I haven’t tracked his past weights so it may be a non story).

[gregregegg]

Both come in heavy. . Now more than ever I think Joyce needs to do a bit of holding and wrestling. Don’t think he will but zhang has quicker hands, Joyce has better cardio.

It’s boxing so you gotta box as well, but if you get close enough hold, hang, and rumble Zhang into the ropes until the ref drags you off. Even if you get a warning or lose a point, doesn’t matter because if you do it no way Zhang lasts 12 vs Joyce.

[Boxerbeetle]

Those weights…bloody hell.

[Ricky]

Joyce will surely avoid getting hit so much and win on points.