9/23 ESPN+: Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce 2

[The Ruler 09]

 

[patscorpio]

 

[The Ruler 09]

 

[Knicksman20]

Let see if it looks like Joyce finally sparred a Southpaw this go around.

You were 100% right bro

Dude basically admitted he didn't in this article lol:

Joyce: I Didn’t Realize How Accurate & Fast Zhang Was; Will Be In Better Form For Rematch

Joe Joyce knew Zhilei Zhang had a lot of experience and gave undefeated Filip Hrgovic everything that the Croatian contender could handle in Zhang’s previous fight.

www.boxingscene.com

“Obviously, I’ve been working on that,” Joyce said. “And I’ve spent a lot more time in the ring with southpaws because it is a tricky style. It’s different because the lead foot is right next to their lead foot and, you know, there’s completely different tactics than I’m used to.


“And Zhang is very experienced. He’s been at a high level in the amateurs. And also, the fight he had before against Filip Hrgovic kinda set him up nicely for a fight against me, which is quite similar. So, he’s had a lot more practice. And now I’ve had more practice and I’ll be in better form.”

 

[Electric Ladyland]

Kownacki never learned to move his head

i doubt Joyce is any different

 

[patscorpio]

LONDON (Sept. 21, 2023) – Top Rank on ESPN+ returns to London this Saturday with a special two-fight broadcast from OVO Arena Wembley.

In the main event, Chinese contender Zhilei Zhang defends his WBO interim heavyweight title in a highly anticipated rematch against British knockout artist Joe Joyce.

The co-feature will see former two-time world title challenger Anthony Yarde taking on Portugal’s Jorge Silva in a 10-rounder.

Promoted by Queensberry, Zhang-Joyce II and Yarde-Silva will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

Zhang (25-1-1, 20 KOs) captured an Olympic silver medal for his home country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before turning pro in 2014. He compiled a 24-0-1 record before losing a controversial decision to Filip Hrgovic last August. Less than eight months later, he faced Joyce for the first time, peppering the Brit with lefts until the ringside physician stopped the fight in round six due to the swelling engulfing Joyce’s right eye. Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs), a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, hopes to exact revenge in his hometown. Before the first Zhang fight, “The Juggernaut” stopped top contenders Carlos Takam, Daniel Dubois, and Joseph Parker during a five-fight knockout streak.

Yarde (23-3, 22 KOs) is a London native who debuted as a pro in May 2015. He went 18-0 before almost knocking out Sergey Kovalev for the WBO title in August 2019. He bounced back with two TKO wins before suffering a split decision defeat to Lyndon Arthur in December 2020. Yarde then notched three more wins, including a fourth-round knockout over Arthur in their December 2021 rematch. Yarde is coming off a valiant but unsuccessful effort against light heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev in January. Silva (22-8, 12 KOs) is a 19-year pro coming off a decision win over Jack Jones in June.

 

[JP_614]

Joyce weighed in heavier than his previous fight. Let’s see if he can fix the head movement. Zhang had a good jab going to be interesting to see what new things he brings plus he might be in better shape.

 

[patscorpio]

damn this a drastic weight gain..funny thing is the pics of both prior today looked like they leaned out...apparently i was wrong

joyce must feel that weighing that low in his first fight fukked up his resistance or something but gotdamn man..all that is telling me if i shouldn't expect too much change in his style...zhang is like a 6 round fighter regardless of weight...zhang has to dent him in the first half or he will fade

 

[patscorpio]

 

[FreedMind]

damn this a drastic weight gain..funny thing is the pics of both prior today looked like they leaned out...apparently i was wrong

joyce must feel that weighing that low in his first fight fukked up his resistance or something but gotdamn man..all that is telling me if i shouldn't expect too much change in his style...zhang is like a 6 round fighter regardless of weight...zhang has to dent him in the first half or he will fade

On mannix's podcast, that's exactly what Joyce said. He was aiming to come in significantly heavier than the first fight.

 

[UpAndComing]

On mannix's podcast, that's exactly what Joyce said. He was aiming to come in significantly heavier than the first fight.

Was just watching an interview with a Boxing writer that Heavyweights in modern day somehow either want to weigh too heavy or weigh too light

Never in the middle lol

 

[Liu Kang]

I don't get why Juggy is weigning heavier this fight, I would have thought he would be aiming at moving more to tire Zhang out.

It's not like he got buckled the previous fight. Weighing more not gonna help avoiding the left he got hit with time and time again last time.

Maybe he's trying to knock Zhang out in 4 or something but I feel he went the wrong direction.

 

[Tyrantus]

I don't get why Juggy is weigning heavier this fight, I would have thought he would be aiming at moving more to tire Zhang out.

It's not like he got buckled the previous fight. Weighing more not gonna help avoiding the left he got hit with time and time again last time.

Maybe he's trying to knock Zhang out in 4 or something but I feel he went the wrong direction.

His knees did buckle once or twice. I do agree that him coming on heavier is a mistake. Plodding forward and slugging it out is exactly what Zhang wants.

 

[gangreen]

I see the weigh in numbersThis fight is not going the distance right

 

[UpAndComing]

Big bang Zhang got heavy hands