{"id":34855,"date":"2023-04-16T05:56:51","date_gmt":"2023-04-16T05:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fusefornews.com\/2023\/04\/16\/joe-joyce-v-zhilei-zhang-british-heavyweight-suffers-first-career-loss-in-shock-defeat\/"},"modified":"2023-04-16T05:56:51","modified_gmt":"2023-04-16T05:56:51","slug":"joe-joyce-v-zhilei-zhang-british-heavyweight-suffers-first-career-loss-in-shock-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fusefornews.com\/?p=34855","title":{"rendered":"Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang: British heavyweight suffers first career loss in shock defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"

[ad_1]
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\"Joe<\/span><\/span>
Joe Joyce (left) suffered a first career defeat and lost his WBO interim heavyweight title<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

British heavyweight Joe Joyce’s world-title ambitions were derailed as he suffered a sixth-round technical knockout loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang at London’s Copper Box Arena. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Joyce, 37, was staggered several times and had no answer to Zhang’s power as he suffered his first pro loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The ringside doctor twice inspected Joyce’s swollen eye before the referee halted the contest in the sixth. <\/span><\/p>\n

“I’m just disappointed with my performance,” Joyce told BT Sport. <\/span><\/p>\n

“The right hand he kept hitting me with… I couldn’t get out of the way, so respect to Zhang. <\/span><\/p>\n

“I expected to win like I normally do. Thanks for all the support and congratulations.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joyce, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist, was the mandatory challenger for unified champion Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO title and was on the cusp of a world-title shot. <\/span><\/p>\n

He added: “I’m disappointed. I’d like to apologise to all my fans and supporters – I’ll be back. My journey’s not over, this is just a hurdle I’ve tripped over. I’ll be back.”<\/span><\/p>\n

‘Juggernaut’ Joyce shocked by ‘Big Bang’<\/h3>\n
\"Joe<\/span><\/span>
Both Zhang (left) and Joyce are Olympic silver medallists<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This was not part of the script, with Joyce losing his WBO interim title. <\/span><\/p>\n

Zhang – a 39-year-old, 6ft 6in southpaw with an accomplished amateur career – was far from a walkover opponent, but was the underdog. <\/span><\/p>\n

Joyce entered the ring to the theme tune of sci-fi film Terminator, and it was a robotic performance from the Putney fighter. <\/span><\/p>\n

He has been guilty of starting slow in the past, but even he looked surprised by the tremendous opening round from ‘Big Bang’, who hurt Joyce twice with big lefts. <\/span><\/p>\n

‘Juggernaut’ Joyce has been commended in the past for having the best, and toughest, chin in the division, but he struggled to shrug off Zhang’s heavy shots. <\/span><\/p>\n

He became a sitting duck at times and was staggered by a left and then a huge right in the second before wobbling towards his own corner. <\/span><\/p>\n

Blood began to pour from Joyce’s nose, both eyes marked up and swollen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joyce was 1st 9lb lighter than his opponent at Friday’s weigh-in, and Zhang’s power could be heard from the thud of each punch to the Briton’s temple. <\/span><\/p>\n

Joyce desperately needed a response and started firing back in the fourth, but with his eye starting to close, there were concerns from his team the fight could be halted. <\/span><\/p>\n

While the ringside doctor inspected Joyce between round five and six, Zhang smiled and acknowledged the crowd. <\/span><\/p>\n

The fight was allowed to continue, but with Joyce’s eyesight clearly hindered – and being repeatedly peppered by Zhang’s punches – referee Howard Foster recalled the doctor in round six before deciding to save Joyce from any more, potentially long-lasting, damage. <\/span><\/p>\n

‘I will be back’<\/h3>\n

Zhang – who won silver at the 2008 Olympics – now boasts 25 wins, with 19 stoppages, one defeat and one draw. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Today is mine,” he said. “Today belongs to me, belongs to everyone who showed up, belongs to every Chinese fan who showed up.”I’m 39 years old, but I’m disciplined, I train hard and next step I go for the title.”<\/span><\/p>\n

In fight week, Joyce said was targeting a world-title shot against Usyk, WBC champion Tyson Fury or a lucrative bout against Anthony Joshua. <\/span><\/p>\n

He insisted he “will be back” and promoter George Warren said they may seek a rematch with Zhang. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mayer impresses on undercard<\/h3>\n
\"Mikaela<\/span><\/span>
Mikaela Mayer (right) has won 18 fights and lost once, a split-decision points defeat to compatriot Alycia Baumgardner in October<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Earlier in the night, American Mikaela Mayer moved a step closer to a potential future showdown with Ireland’s undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor as she beat late replacement Lucy Wildheart on points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Former super-featherweight champion Mayer, 32, was the busier and more accurate boxer against the game Wildheart, who stepped in at 24 hours’ notice after after <\/span>Christina Linardatou failed a medical.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sweden’s Wildheart, 30, had the odd success early on but Mayer – who controlled the distance and got the better of the inside exchanges – dominated the middle and later rounds to win the vacant WBC interim title. <\/span><\/p>\n