Nick Peet: Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang preview

In a heavyweight division devoid of hits and littered with misses so far in 2023, leading contender Joe Joyce gets the chance to stake his claim for a world title chance on Saturday night.

‘The Juggernaut’ has to win and win well against China’s Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box in London in order to stir up excitement for a potential showdown with Tyson Fury.

‘The Gypsy King’ failed miserably to get a unification match with Oleksandr Usyk past the negotiating table last month, leaving him without a suitable dance partner this summer.

Joyce, 37, should be the next logical step. Not only is he ranked in the top five, but he’s also promoted by the same double act as Fury; Frank Warren and BT Sports.

But first he has to look good against Zhang who, despite suffering his first pro defeat last time out, is a credible opponent. He’s a big old unit with bags of experience.

VETERANS

In a battle of the Olympic silver medalists – Joyce came up one win short in 2016, Zhang back in 2008 – size, for once, won’t matter. Both are six-foot-six and regularly tip the scales close to 270lb.

Joyce has beaten the better quality of opposition in his almost punch perfect 15-0 (14 KO) paid career, with wins over the likes of Bermane Stiverne, Bryant Jennings, Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker eclipsing anything on Zhang’s ledger.

🥊 A Big KO over the former world champion 🇳🇿 Joseph Parker last time out for 🇬🇧 Joe Joyce.

Now he looks to add 🇨🇳 Zhilei Zhang to the highlight reel.pic.twitter.com/I9SVrjQiNU

— EverythingBoxing | Darshan Desai (@EverythingBoxi2) April 10, 2023

That’s reflected in his top five positioning. But boxing rankings are easily manipulated, and despite his unbeaten form, Joyce simply has to catch the attention of fight fans if he’s going to force himself into a title opportunity.

Zhang, of course, is best placed to upset those plans.

The 39-year-old southpaw is from Henan in central China but has been based out of New Jersey on the East Coast of the USA since turning pro in 2014 – two years after Anthony Joshua ended his second crack at Olympic success at the quarter-finals stage in London.

ZZ’s 24-1-1 (19 KO) record is made up of club level fighters and, on the two occasions he did step up, he scored a draw with the extremely fringe contender Jerry Forrest and was outpointed by Filip Hrgovic out in Saudi Arabia last summer.

To be fair, he should have had his hand raised on the AJ-Usyk 2 undercard in Jeddah as he had Hrgovic over in the first round and bullied him in the middle ones too. But regardless, the overrated Croatian is no Joe Joyce and the difference in levels should be clear for all to see.

POWER PLAY

The ’Big Bang’ has a strong lead right hook, loves to throw the uppercut and can claim a solid chin. But he’s also slow and ponderous and too easy to hit.

Admittedly, Joyce is hardly a dancer, meaning this fight may at times appear to be playing out in slow motion. But he’s economical with his output, relentless in his offense and uncompromising once the bell goes.

Joyce’s granite chin has become a marvel all of its own and whilst speed may not be his forte, power certainly is. Eventually, the relentless pressure will get to Zhang, who will ship one too many bombs to remain vertical long enough to beat the count.

TIP: Joyce by KO 10-12