Zhilei Zhang ripped up the script in April, making a fool of those who overlooked him and snatched the WBO interim world heavyweight title from Joe Joyce on enemy territory. Now, the 40-year-old needs to do it again in their rematch to set up a seismic 2024 as bigger fights await Saturday’s winner, something he has taken into consideration with an enhanced training camp this time around.
Zhang doesn’t hide the gameplan: hunt down Joyce’s eye
- 40-year-old Chinese heavyweight tells me he has added a new strength-and-conditioning coach, therapist, massage team and three sparring partners in what he describes as a “way better” training camp overall the second time around for rematch with fellow Olympic silver medallist
- On being able to deal with any of Joyce’s adjustments come fight night: “Whatever he does is out of my control – I can only focus on myself and from my sparring partners, I can say that I’m ready for whatever he brings.”
- Zhang admits disappointment that Joyce activated rematch clause but knew he had to honour the contract, saying he was “very close” to fighting WBC champion Tyson Fury in the summer as terms were agreed
- “Deep down, you never know with eye sockets… we saw his weakness, I will look to explore it again. It’s both physical and mental [the pain after suffering a first professional defeat], I’m going to aim for the eye.”
Zhilei Zhang (c) vs. Joe Joyce 2 for WBO interim world heavyweight title
London’s Wembley Arena, on TNT Sports in UK and ESPN+ in US
This coming Saturday, main event ringwalks expected around 10.30pm BST
April 15 belonged firmly to Zhilei Zhang, on his return to London, and he intends to make it 2-0 in 2023 against a now-former interim world champion who won fans and critics around to a style that isn’t always pretty, but worked wonders. Until it didn’t.
It’s up to the Juggernaut to convince everyone that was his worst night, but Zhang believes a repeat is inevitable and why wouldn’t he? Joyce has never shown fantastic head movement or defensive prowess, with his chin durability holding up just fine.
Sergey Kuzmin and Hamza Beguerni scored stoppage wins over him in a four-month span during the 38-year-old’s amateur days, but that was a decade ago. Whenever he’s been hurt in the pro ranks, Joyce has previously walked towards the fire.
This time though, it was different. Zhang couldn’t miss with the left hand, Joyce wasn’t fast enough to evade or force him into adjustments and as the eye quickly swelled up, so did the Chinese’ confidence levels – whether he was truly tiring or not.
Zhang-Joyce 2, read more of my coverage
Joyce on fluctuating weight, desire to improve and more before Saturday
Joyce’s trainer Ismael Salas concedes he overlooked Zhang, before rematch
Rewind: Zhang stuns Joyce with R6 TKO, new WBO interim HW champion
Mosope: Zhilei, talk to me a bit about how you felt in the fight. Joe said he felt you starting to tire in the fourth and fifth, what are your thoughts on that?
Zhang: That’s what he thought, I know what I can do. In my training camp, I can go 12-13 rounds and still feel the same.
MO: A lot of people were saying Joyce came in lighter, maybe he should’ve come in heavier to take your punches better. Do you think the weight had much of a difference in determining the outcome?
ZZ: When you put on that much weight, they think you can take more punches and work on your resistance but I say you get slower. I have Mariusz Wach here in my camp, he’s about 300lbs and I’m not concerned about gaining any weight.
MO: Who were the other two sparring partners?
Kurt Li, Zhang’s translator and friend: I can answer that. Ukraine’s Dmytro Bezus [who lost to David Adeleye in June], he’s now training out of Montreal, Canada along with Arslanbek Makhmudov and Artur Beterbiev.
Another guy is Alonzo Neal, 2023 Golden Gloves finalist out of Denver, Colorado.
MO: Lastly from me, is there anything you’ve worked on differently or looked to improve from the first fight… or same routine?
ZZ: I made a lot of adjustments!
Firstly, my strength-and-conditioning coach – Dave Honig – we had a wonderful time together and I also have a new therapist, Chinese medicine massage, three sparring partners. I believe this training camp has been way better than any I’ve ever had.
Fatigue has been the big criticism of Zhang throughout his career, physically fading in the latter stages of previous fights. It happened against unbeaten IBF mandatory contender Filip Hrgovic last August, and Jerry Forrest (MD10) a year-and-a-half prior.
Honig has previously trained multiple world champions including Luis Collazo, Zab Judah, Daniel Jacobs and most recently been working alongside super-middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga (#4 WBO, #6 IBF). Zhang’s gas tank should be no issue, if he’s able to withstand Joyce’s pressure and high punch output again.
He allowed himself a two-week holiday in Thailand before getting straight back to the gym and his tailor-made sparring partners suggest he’ll deal with Joyce even better a second time around whether the Brit comes in heavier as expected or not.
“Alonso throws more punches, Dmitro hits way harder than Joe and Wach is much heavier too so I’m ready for whatever he brings.”
The last time Zhang fought in London before April, he lost in the 2012 Olympic quarterfinals to former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Matchroom chief and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn posted a subtle dig on social media post-fight, and Zhang revealed that matchup “will always be there,” for him as he wants to avenge that three-round defeat at some stage before retirement.
First things first, make a definitive statement in Saturday’s rematch and successfully defend his newly-earned interim world title. Then the biggest fights – Fury, Joshua and more – will present themselves. If only it were that easy.
Full card, is as follows
Running order TBA, fights still subject to change
12 round main event
Heavyweight: Zhilei Zhang (c) vs. Joe Joyce for WBO interim world title
10 rounds
Light-welterweight: Pierce O’Leary (c) vs. Kane Gardner for WBC International title
Light-heavyweight: Anthony Yarde vs. Jorge Silva
Super-middleweight: Zach Parker vs. Khalid Graidia
8 rounds
Light-heavyweight: Ezra Taylor vs. Joel McIntyre
6 rounds
Heavyweight: Moses Itauma vs. Amine Boucetta
Welterweight: Sean Noakes vs. Lukasz Barabasz
Cruiserweight: Tommy Fletcher vs. Alberto Tapia
Cruiserweight: Aloys Youmbi vs. Erik Nazaryan
Super-featherweight: Royston Barney-Smith vs. Engel Gomez
Picture source: Getty Images, all quotes transcribed here from a media call with written journalists on Sept. 15, as stated
Mo and Sports 