Joyce in mood to KO Zhang
Zhilei Zhang v Joe Joyce WBO interim heavyweight title Copper Box Arena, London, Sat
JOE JOYCE is confident that he can go “back in time” on Saturday night when he fights Zhilei Zhang again in London.
The hard-hitting heavyweight was stopped in a stunning upset by Zhang (below) in April, but immediately activated his rematch clause to set up a quick re-run.
And, with a win potentially reinstating his spot as the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk, the Brit believes he can rewind the clock and compete for world honours next year.
“The way mandatories go, Daniel Dubois has already had his shot with the WBA and then it’s Filip Hrgovic up next with the IBF, so once I get the WBO interim title back, then I’ll be back in time and nothing will have changed,” Joyce said.
“So it’s better to get it back that way because it’s hard enough as it is being the No.1 mandatory, interim and wondering when the undisputed [between Usyk and Tyson Fury] is going to happen.”
Joyce is confident he could have defeated Zhang on that night at the Copper Box, had doctors not stopped him due to a severe eye injury.
“I was in that fight and I could beat him, so that’s what I’m going for,” he added. “Actually, I don’t think I can beat him, I KNOW I can beat him and I will beat him – I’m going to smash Zhang this time.
“I wasn’t tired and I could still see a little bit, I was starting to land shots and get into the fight, it was only the eye and the doctors that called it off.
“I kept coming forward and he was starting to get tired, I believe. I could have turned it around and won the fight, but I’ve got an opportunity in a bigger fight now to take back what’s mine.”