Joe Joyce aims to avenge his defeat back in April against the WBO interim heavyweight champion, Zhilei Zhang.
The OVO Arena in Wembley, London plays host to a rematch with serious consequences as ‘The Juggernaut’ Joe Joyce looks to put the events in the Copper Box behind him in his attempt to re-capture interim gold. With that the hope of fighting Oleksandr Usyk in the near future if the Fury-Usyk fight isn’t made next.
Last time out, Joe Joyce weighed in at his career lightest of 256lb in the first encounter. Many put the loss down to this as he struggled to lean his weight on Zhang and he couldn’t fight his usual style. This time around, Joe Joyce weighed in at career heaviest 281lb whereas Zhang went even heavier tipping the scales at 287lb.
Joe Joyce faced a lot of criticism for his lack of head movement and ability to evade Zhang’s shot selection so it will be interesting to see what adjustments have been made in both camps ahead of tonight’s rematch.
On the undercard, Zach Parker makes his first appearance in a boxing ring since his unfortunate hand injury against John Ryder back in November of last year. Moses Itauma continues his development, and Anthony Yarde brings some star power onto the undercard as he co-main events tonight’s show.
The ringwalks for the main event are expected to take place at 10:30 pm BST, but don’t be surprised if it runs later if some undercard fights don’t finish before the final bell.
Fight Card
Main Event: WBO Interim Heavyweight Championship – Zhilei Zhang Def. Joe Joyce via KO at 3:07 of Round 3
Light Heavyweight bout – Anthony Yarde Def. Jorge Silva via KO at 2:07 of Round 2
Heavyweight bout – Moses Itauma Def. Amine Boucetta via TKO at 1:38 of Round 1
WBC International Super Lightweight Championship – Pierce O’Leary Def. Kane Gardner via Unanimous Decision (100-90, 99-92, 99-92)
Super Middleweight bout – Zach Parker Def. Khalid Graidia via TKO in Round 7
Super Featherweight bout – Royston Barney-Smith Def. Engel Gomez via Unanimous Decision (60-52)
Live Blog
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Outcome and takeaways
Joyce approached the fight in the exact same manner as he did the first. He didn’t move his head off the centre line much at all. Joyce needs to re-evaluate where he’s at and either hang the gloves up, or change something in the back because that was inexcusable, he knew what Zhang was good at and he played to his strengths again. Zhilei Zhang is in a difficult position now because Usyk’s next fight should be Tyson Fury, and therefore it leaves him in a place where he’s likely to defend his interim belt again.
23:06 – Official Result – Zhilei Zhang Def. Joe Joyce via KO at 3:07 of Round 3
23:03 – Round 3
ZHANG KNOCKS OUT JOE JOYCE AGAIN!
22:58 – Round 2
Zhang lands a massive left hand on the chin of Joe Joyce. Joyce didn’t look hurt and he bounced back quickly and got back to work but the telling shot of the round from Zhang wins him the round. 19-18 Zhang.
22:54 – Round 1
A tentative start to the fight with Joyce circling to his left which is a clear difference from the first fight already. Neither really able to connect with much. Has to be a 10-10 simply because no one landed anything.
22:50 – Main Event is underway. Zhang versus Joyce, here we go!
22:45 – Zhilei Zhang makes his ring walk to the tune of We Will Rock You
22:41 – Joe Joyce makes his ring walk to the tune of Hallelujah
22:23 – Main Event up next
22:22 – Official Result: Anthony Yarde Def. Jorge Silva via KO at 2:07 of Round 2
22:21 – Round 2
Yarde’s picking the pace up in the second round. He’s catching Silva with every shot he throws. The bodywork seems to be the most damaging but a lovely uppercut landed partway through the round. A shot to the head drops Silva in the final minute of round two, AND THE REFEREE WAVES THE FIGHT OFF!
22:17 – Round 1
Anthony Yarde sits behind his jab largely in the first round and already Silva is scared of the power coming his way from Yarde. Jorge Silva seems to be trying to circle around the outside trying not to be hit more than anything. The building seems to be more so tense for the main event than focused on this fight. 10-9 Yarde.
22:13 – Anthony Yarde vs. Jorge Silva gets underway
Official Result: Moses Itauma Def. Amine Boucetta via TKO at 1:38 of Round 1
21:59 – Round 1
Left hook drops Boucetta halfway through the round, he gets back up but not for long as Itauma drops him again in the corner. Easy nights work for Moses Itauma. Total mismatch. Should not have been in the same ring as him. This is what gives boxing a bad reputation.
21:56 – Itauma vs Boucetta underway
21:46 – Pierce O’Leary Def. Kane Garnder via Unanimous Decision (100-90, 99-92, 99-92)
21:44 – Round 10
O’Leary cruised in those last two rounds, knowing he didn’t need to do anything particularly fancy. He landed a good snapping shot with a minute left of the fight and with it he takes the round. Final scorecard, 98-92 O’Leary.
21:40 – Round 9
Gardner comes back with some good shots in that round. Much better work, probably takes the round even though O’Leary landed some good shots. 88-83 O’Leary.
21:36 – Round 8
Slower round in the eighth, O’Leary takes the round due to his pressure and shots thrown but in comparison to those before both fighters not as active. 79-73 O’Leary.
21:32 – Round 7
Body language doesn’t look great for the Lancastrian as he starts the round still circling the ring. Aiming for survival rather than winning, O’Leary lands another massive shot that stuns Gardener again. The Irishman knows he’s closing in on a stoppage victory if he can set up the perfect shot. Great resolve and toughness for Gardner to still be on his feet but O’Leary is just too talented for this level. 69-64 O’Leary.
21:28 – Round 6
O’Leary wobbles Kane Gardner! Signs of confidence for Kane as he stalks O’Leary at the start of the round and stands his ground in the centre. This is the fight that was originally advertised both willing to be hit in order to land. O’Leary catches Gardner and stumbles him. His legs were shaky, with 45 seconds left of the round. He circled the rest of the round to survive. He was hurt. Relief at the end of the round for Kane as he was rocked. 59-55.
21:24 – Round 5
Best round of the fight for Kane Gardner, much needed. O’Leary was looking to run away with the fight but instead, O’Leary had to circle round the outside for parts of the round. Gardner smiles with a minute left of the round as he sees O’Leary is cut and advances further, landing the cleaner and most damaging shots of the round. First round of the fight for the Englishman. 49-46 O’Leary.
21:20 – Round 4
O’Leary can’t miss and he’s starting to flick through the gears. Right straight lands cleanly to the jaw, body hooks slowing Gardner down, showing real dominance and class here. Gardner tried to take the advice this round though, fighting for the centre but in doing so, allows O’Leary to work in a close range where he seems superior. 40-36.
21:16 – Round 3
Message from the corner of Kane Gardner appears to have fallen on deaf ears as all the advice of showing his opponent what he’s about hasn’t been adhered to and Kane is still too happy to let O’Leary control the centre of the ring and control where he wants his opponent. O’Leary fighting the perfect fight up to this point. Heavy body shot landed to the mid-region of Gardner in the final minute which just stamps O’Leary’s authority on the round. 30-27 O’Leary.
21:12 – Round 2
Gardner needs to make a change here, he’s too happy to fight with his back to the ropes and he’s being caught because he’s not using his movement to try and escape. O’Leary has great hand speed to top things off. 20-18 O’Leary.
21:08 – Round 1
O’Leary showing real power during the opening round, staggering Gardner back with a right straight halfway through the three minutes. Kane Gardner needs to settle here after round one as he looked a little lost in there. Clear 10-9 for O’Leary.
21:03 – Pierce O’Leary and Kane Gardner introduced by the MC and they get underway.
20:52 – Official Result: Zach Parker Def. Khalid Graidia via TKO (Round 7)
20:50 – The fight has been called off! Graidia cannot continue. A suspected broken nose leads to a stoppage victory for Zach Parker at the end of the seventh round.
20:49 – Round 7
Body hooks are still finding a home for Zach Parker and he’s steadily cruising to a points victory as he rebuilds confidence after that horrific hand injury in December 2022. 70-63 Parker.
20:45 – Round 6
Again, the round follows as each of the five previous have done. Clear domination. 60-54 Parker.
20:41 – Round 5
Parker landed a clean combination in the first minute of the round, a 3,4,5 in boxing terms which caught the attention of Graidia. Parker’s first fight back from injury can only improve with a knockout which will be considered a difficult task against anyone as tough as Graidia who’s still to be finished as a pro. Parker 50-45.
20:37 – Round 4
Graidia starting to try and let his hands go and chase down Parker but his head movement and footwork are tremendous and he’s hardly been touched. The face of the Frenchman is starting to show some wear and tear. Parker 40-36.
20:33 – Round 3
Parker using the stick and move tactic to great effect, combined with the several body shots he’s placed just behind the elbow is adding up to form a very classy performance. It looks like a total mismatch in the opening rounds. 30-27 Parker.
20:29 – Round 2
The shot selection by the talented Englishman is helping him find the target more often than not and his timing is causing real issues for Graidia who ends the round swinging at thin air. Parker looks very comfortable in his return to action. 20-18 Parker.
20:25 – Round 1
Zach Parker picked up where he left off before the hand injury. Landing some heavy shots in the first minute including a right body shot that Graidia felt and reacted to. 10-9 Parker.
20:20 – Zach Parker vs. Khalid Graidia gets underway
20:15 – Zach Parker is set to make his ring walk next
20:08 – Scorecards
60-52. Easiest scorecard the referee will have all night. 19-year-old Royston-Smith remains undefeated.
20:06 – Round 6
That was a dominant display and will see Royston-Smith pick up a 60-52 scorecard. Big swelling under both eyes of Engel Gomez shows just how accurate Royston-Smith was and the record will tick over for Barney.
20:02 – Round 5
Royston-Smith is clearly five-nil up so he needs to turn up the pressure in the final round and go and finish this fight to cap a perfect display.
19:58 – Round 4
Barney-Smith has all the makings of an amazing boxer in the future and he’s outclassing Gomez as he has done since the opening bell. It feels like a proper step-up of opponent is needed in the next step of his journey.
19:54 – Round 3
An uppercut drops Gomez early in round three, but again, the Nicaraguan gets back to his feet and continues, now approaching this fight differently and with a clear shift, focusing heavily on his footwork and head movement trying to close the distance. Barney-Smith is counter-punching quite brilliantly at range but he’s really getting nothing thrown back at him.
19:50 – Round 2
A cracking body shot landed in a combination from Royston and after a delayed reaction, Gomez takes a knee and gets up at the nine count. Just as it looked like he’d had enough, he carried on and made it to the bell. Great round for Barney-Smith who is on a completely different level to Engel Gomes.
19:46 – Round 1
Barney-Smith with some crisp left hooks during the opening three minutes, his distance management has been worked on since his last fight, in and out really quickly and he’s finding it easy to counter Gomez’s loose shots.
19:43 – Royston Barney-Smith vs. Engel Gomez
The first fight of the night is underway. The ringwalks have commenced and the opening bell is rang.
Who wins the rematch? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image credits to Embed from Getty Images
