BoxRec

No way Fury Wilder or AJ want anything to do with this guy.

I agree unless it's in China for Saudi style money, Usyk will more than likely have to fight him next year, he would have a chance if he gets on his bike Zhang flattens eveyone else IMO.

If fury was motivated and in shape, I think he wins on points, maybe even a late stoppage.

Zhang has good hands but slow feet.

ZZ is obviously big and powerful but JJ was made for him, he’s never been elusive so became a punch bag. Someone with good movement and handspeed wouldn’t make ZZ look as good.

I think Joyce flattered Zhang tbh, definitely all wrong for him and paid big time. Don’t think Zhang is suddenly amazing, but then neither are AJ, Wilder or Fury, so who knows. Usyk is still the best heavyweight on the planet by a big margin, which unfortunately says a lot for the state of it.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 07:25 I think Joyce flattered Zhang tbh, definitely all wrong for him and paid big time. Don’t think Zhang is suddenly amazing, but then neither are AJ, Wilder or Fury, so who knows. Usyk is still the best heavyweight on the planet by a big margin, which unfortunately says a lot for the state of it.

I agree with the majority of this

Zhang had Joyce's number all day long, unfortunately. Gutted for Joe, but that is boxing, what goes around comes around. Wasn't long back he smashed Parker to bits.

Confidence plays a massive part in anything we do in life, boxing is no different. Zhang had that swagger walking into the fight last night. Joe looked tentative.

The usual clubbing shots from Joyce, lacked power and you could see he continuously worried about the left coming back, only to be flattened by the right.

Did Joyce flatter Zhang? Absolutely. At 40, he can't hang about. A more elusive fighter, perhaps takes Zhang beyond 6 and that'll be an end to the Chinese swagger, but be careful not to get ZHANGED early doors

Remember when a 21 year old Tyson was the man to beat, now its a 40 year old Zhang who lost to Hrgovich.

ffs.

Twinkle Toes wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:18 Remember when a 21 year old Tyson was the man to beat, now its a 40 year old Zhang who lost to Hrgovich.

ffs.

Shows the sad state of heavyweight boxing does'nt it

Usyk will beat him.
Wilder would take the fight, who knows what would happen.
Fury won’t.
Joshua would take it but those around him will see sense.

leejonesjnr wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:25 Usyk will beat him.
Wilder would take the fight, who knows what would happen.
Fury won’t.
Joshua would take it but those around him will see sense.

Not so sure about Wilder , except for Fury who he thought was going to be a big fat , easy win , Willder has 'nt excatly got an history of taking good opponents on , he just seems to get a free pass all the time , still ducking Andy , does'nt seem in a hurry to fight anyone either ,,, would be an interesting fight

coneye wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:36

leejonesjnr wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:25 Usyk will beat him.
Wilder would take the fight, who knows what would happen.
Fury won’t.
Joshua would take it but those around him will see sense.

Not so sure about Wilder , except for Fury who he thought was going to be a big fat , easy win , Willder has 'nt excatly got an history of taking good opponents on , he just seems to get a free pass all the time , still ducking Andy , does'nt seem in a hurry to fight anyone either ,,, would be an interesting fight

WELL… by that reckoning Joshua is still the man, he has by FAR the strongest resume at heavy.

Heavyweight boxing is mental innit

I vaguely remember Joshua beating Zhang in the Olympics, but can’t recall many of the details tbh. I only really remember that it wasn’t a controversial decision, unlike some of his other contests.

ScottDetonator wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 07:49 Zhang had Joyce's number all day long, unfortunately. Gutted for Joe, but that is boxing, what goes around comes around. Wasn't long back he smashed Parker to bits.

Confidence plays a massive part in anything we do in life, boxing is no different. Zhang had that swagger walking into the fight last night. Joe looked tentative.

The usual clubbing shots from Joyce, lacked power and you could see he continuously worried about the left coming back, only to be flattened by the right.

Did Joyce flatter Zhang? Absolutely. At 40, he can't hang about. A more elusive fighter, perhaps takes Zhang beyond 6 and that'll be an end to the Chinese swagger, but be careful not to get ZHANGED early doors

Zhang always had more in his toolkit. Joyce's team seemed to think circling left was all they needed. Basic as

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:51

ScottDetonator wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 07:49 Zhang had Joyce's number all day long, unfortunately. Gutted for Joe, but that is boxing, what goes around comes around. Wasn't long back he smashed Parker to bits.

Confidence plays a massive part in anything we do in life, boxing is no different. Zhang had that swagger walking into the fight last night. Joe looked tentative.

The usual clubbing shots from Joyce, lacked power and you could see he continuously worried about the left coming back, only to be flattened by the right.

Did Joyce flatter Zhang? Absolutely. At 40, he can't hang about. A more elusive fighter, perhaps takes Zhang beyond 6 and that'll be an end to the Chinese swagger, but be careful not to get ZHANGED early doors

Zhang always had more in his toolkit. Joyce's team seemed to think circling left was all they needed. Basic as

How would you beat him?

Twinkle Toes wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:18 Remember when a 21 year old Tyson was the man to beat, now its a 40 year old Zhang who lost to Hrgovich.

ffs.

Zhang beat Hrgovic

Controversial wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 07:07 ZZ is obviously big and powerful but JJ was made for him, he’s never been elusive so became a punch bag. Someone with good movement and handspeed wouldn’t make ZZ look as good.

Agree

Hrgovic beat him with movement and work rate. Joyce being tailor made for Zhang has definitely flattered him.

A fit Fury beats Zhang on points - no chance of Fury ever stopping him though.
Unfortunately we won`t ever see a fit Tyson Fury again, certainly not against a credible and dangerous opponent as Zhang.

This version of Zhang against this version of Fury probably stops him too. If Fury tried to fight Zhang as he fought Wilder it just wouldn`t work .. as Zhang has shown, he has plenty boxing skills to go with a big punch and size.
Fury has always liked to fight at his own plodding pace; I don`t believe he is able to keep up a high work rate nowadays as Hrgovic did to beat Zhang.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:48 I vaguely remember Joshua beating Zhang in the Olympics, but can’t recall many of the details tbh. I only really remember that it wasn’t a controversial decision, unlike some of his other contests.

Knocked Zhang over. Won on points.

leejonesjnr wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:52

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 08:51

ScottDetonator wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 07:49 Zhang had Joyce's number all day long, unfortunately. Gutted for Joe, but that is boxing, what goes around comes around. Wasn't long back he smashed Parker to bits.

Confidence plays a massive part in anything we do in life, boxing is no different. Zhang had that swagger walking into the fight last night. Joe looked tentative.

The usual clubbing shots from Joyce, lacked power and you could see he continuously worried about the left coming back, only to be flattened by the right.

Did Joyce flatter Zhang? Absolutely. At 40, he can't hang about. A more elusive fighter, perhaps takes Zhang beyond 6 and that'll be an end to the Chinese swagger, but be careful not to get ZHANGED early doors

Zhang always had more in his toolkit. Joyce's team seemed to think circling left was all they needed. Basic as

How would you beat him?

Me personally? I couldn't without a weapon, preferably a gun.

Joyce, his best bet was to try and win ugly, get inside, and maul, bang the body, try and slow Zhang down, and reduce his effectivenress rapidly. Would it have worked, don't know, Joyce is very slow and relies on griding people down, just not sure Zhang was ever going to let Joe into the fight, but fighting at mid-range, throwing virtually nothing was suicidal.

Intelligent pressure generally, but think you need better basic speed than Joyce.

The thing I like about Zhang's work, is he doesn't overextend his shots, they are compact tight shots, that right hand he ended it with, was thrown on a tight arc, and he was never off balance - but then that's partly because Joyce stood there with his head upright like a kid who just won a toffee apple at the fair - no movement, either lateral, or head, no change of levels.

It's a little easy to get overexcited by Zhang, he has very very good punch technique, and can really bang, and put his shots together well - but get him moving around, and he's going to be a lot less effective.

I'd like to see him in with Usyk, an intriguing fight, and I'd give him a shot, as he has serious power and size advantages, and he is technically pretty good - Usyk certainly won't be able to afford to sleepwalk, because one of those right hooks and it's game over. Bring it on I say, Zhang's earned it, and it's hard not to root for him.

Joyce really should call it a day, he's found his level, and now that the myth of invincibility has been dispelled he's in for some really rough nights. He's always been easy to hit, but the fact he barely blinked before when he got hit, was very discouraging for his opponents, and I think mentally wore them down.

I will say, he did well to get up from that knockdown, that was as good a right hook as I've seen from a heavyweight in many years, they were right to stop it, he was going to get badly hurt as he was already a sitting duck before the knockdown.

I really don't see any sense in him continuing, he's far too easy to hit and there's no road back to a title shot now, not unless Fury offers him a bullshit volunatry defence.

I feel sad for Joyce and delighted for Zhang in equal measure. Both good guys, it seems to me.

I'm pleased it has worked out so well for Zhang. After he got stiffed by the judges against Hrgovic, I feared he would find himself in no man's land, with no one wanting to face him.

But, he took a chance against Joyce, when most people were avoiding him, and did an outstanding job. Twice. I hope he is rewarded with a mega fight and a mega purse.

I also hope Joyce takes some time off and doesn't rush into anything. Hopefully, he has made a good amount of money already and doesn't need to box again. He can be commended for being willing to go in with anyone, and has some good wins under his belt.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑24 Sep 2023, 09:41he barely blinked before when he got hit

he did well to get up from that knockdown, that was as good a right hook as I've seen from a heavyweight in many years

Classic case of didn't-see-it-coming. He's maybe more human to hooks than straights though? He's normally tall enough to force opponents long, where many have resorted to wild swings between his gaps up close.

Zhang's power was obviously a massive individual element, but coupled with his ability to pressure the advancing Joyce cancelled him out. That's been Joe's best territory, shipping the odd counter to drain his opponents. Against someone who could time and hurt him his wariness stole those strengths.

I can’t see Wilder wanting to take Zhang on at this stage. Sure he offers more of a threat than Joyce as those haymakers still carry some speed, but he’s almost 38 himself. Could be a painful night for him.

I thought he beat hrgovic fairly clearly.

Usyk probably beats him but l wouldn't pick anyone else. Wilder has one punch whereas ZZ has an entire arsenal. Wilder obviously only has a punchers chance. Fury had a hard time avoiding wilder and is heavily overrated. I'd take ZZ, the only issue is stamina. AJ would get clobbered.

Less chance Wilder agrees to fight Zhang than Fury .. well, actually the same; neither guys goes near Zhang