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Joe Joyce (15-0-0, 14KOs) is a rumbling avalanche of a fighter in the ring. Out of it, he’s avoided by the top names, and is trying to gain enough momentum to make himself unmissable. Zhilei Zhang (24-1-1, 19 KOs) has thrown his hat in the ring, and he too is a huge, hard-throwing slugger, so we should have a proper fight on our hands.
Check out our in-depth preview of the fight here
The card will start at 2PM ET Saturday in the US on ESPN+, with main event ringwalks expected 6PM ET – but stay tuned here for any updates on that. UK viewers will find it on BT Sport, with the card starting at 7PM BST and main event ringwalks expected at 11PM BST.
Update: alright, we’re live with the main card. A note: I’m seeing some complaints from US viewers that the ESPN+ coverage doesn’t start for another hour. Not sure what’s going on there.
Update: The ESPN coverage has now started, but I understand there are audio issues on their feed, the video being several seconds behind the audio. If you’re watching, that’s not on your end, that’s them.
Update: okay, just the main event left, but with 40 minutes left until the anticipated start time, it may be that we’re in for some filler. Keep your eyes peeled though, on the off-chance they do move it up a bit.
Update: okay, just the main event left, but with 40 minutes left until the anticipated start time, it may be that we’re in for some filler. Keep your eyes peeled though, on the off-chance they do move it up a bit.
UPDATE: Okay, ringwalks starting now, so they have moved it up.
Play-by-Play
Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang
Round 1: They open fighting for space with their jabs, in open stance (Zhang being southpaw). Joyce already finding Zhang with a few shots from odd angles. Zhang finds a big left and Joyce wobbles a bit. Joyce backing up, Joyce trying to cricle out but Zhang the faster at this stage. Joyce recovered now. Zhang tries to work the body. The straight left is landing for him plenty too. And another big one as the round closes. 10-9 Zhang.
Round 2: Joyce started slow here. He’s trying to play it safe by circling a lot on the outside, but he’s not really fast enough to make that work, so he’ll need to be sharper and throw more to tire Zhang. Starts the round more aggressively. Aiming to hook over Zhang’s jab now, but gets caught and has to step back again. And wobbled! Huge shot! Joyce wobbling all over the shop, but Zhang pushes him and Joyce gets a reprieve as the ref pauses the action. He’s still all over the shop though. Now he goes on the front foot and starts to work Zhang’s body. Joyce’s nose streaming with blood but he’s closing the round on the attack. Still a very clear Zhang round, though. 10-9 Zhang, 20-18.
Round 3: Zhang needed to be hurting Joyce early, and he is. Joyce responds by coming out pushing, but has he recovered or just trying to prove that he has? Zhang still landing the left down the pipe at will. And a clubbing overhand left now. He’s getting off his own work better though, and Zhang probably does need to get him out early. Big body shot from Zhang that Joyce feels. Zhang lands a big uppercut with the right, but Joyce is starting to get his voluume going now. Another big left lands but now Joyce takes it much better. This is where he needs to be, in Zhang’s face. Still a Zhang round, but way, way closer. 10-9 Zhang, 30-27
Round 4: Joyce’s eye not looking good. Zhang lands another straight right at mid-range. Joyce really has to be in close. He’s finding his way round Zhang’s guard better now though. Starting to slap Zhang’s guard down now though, think about his work a little more smarlty. The middle of the round is basically them taking turns in the middle. Joyce is moving with the shots that he does take better now. Close round, Joyce with the volume but still having his head snapped back. 10-9 Zhang, 40-36
Round 5: Joyce knows he’s behind, comes out firing. Zhang backs him up briefly, but Joyce back on it quickly. Still, though, getting far far too easily hit down the center. He’s doing far more work, but every left hand Zhang throws is snapping his head back. And he wobbles Joyce briefly again. All that said, Zhang’s volume has dropped heavily, and Joyce has taken this round, even as he continues to take damage. 10-9 Joyce, 49-46
Round 6: Doctor having a look at Joyce’s right eye, which is a wreck. They carry on for now though. Joyce may need to stop Zhang soon, because this is close to being stopped as he can’t see out of it. He starts with that in mind, pushing in close. Zhang knows it too, though, and unleashes a flurry, hitting that eye again. And they call the doctor in again. This might be done. And it’s stopped! Just couldn’t deal with that eye. Upset result here!
Zhang wins, TKO6.
Results and highlights
Interim WBO Heavyweight world title: Zhilei Zhang TKO6 Joe Joyce.
Women’s Lightweight: Mikaela Mayer UD Lucy Wildheart 98-92, 100-90, 98-91
Heavyweight: Moses Itouma Def. Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko 60-54 (referee’s decision)
Commonwealth Lightweight Title: Sam Noakes TKO-2 Karthik Sathish Kumar
British Middleweght Title: Denzel Bentley KO1 Kieran Smith
Welterweight: Eithan James def. Georgi Velichkov 60-54 (referee’s decision)
Welterweight: Sonny Ali def. Richard Helm 60-54 (referee’s decision)
Light-Heavyweight: Freezy Macbones def. Darryl Sharp 40-36 (referee’s decision)
Middleweight: Joel Kodua def. Dale Arrowsmith 40-36 (referee’s decision)
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