Battered Joe Joyce wants Zhilei Zhang rematch after eye injury causes 1st defeat
Joe Joyce says he wants a rematch with Zhilei Zhang following his shock TKO defeat to the Chinese underdog at London's Copper Box Arena on Saturday night.
Referee Howard Foster stopped the fight in the sixth round after Joyce's eye was swollen shut by a succession of left hands from his southpaw opponent. The defeat was the first of Joyce's 16-fight professional career and saw him surrender the WBO interim heavyweight title.
After the bout, a battered Joyce magnanimously conceded his rival got the better of him, but insisted he'd be happy to fight him again, whether it be in London or Beijing.
READ MORE: Joe Joyce sensationally stopped by TKO as Zhilei Zhang stuns Brit with fast start
When asked how the fight got away from him during his post-match interview with talkSPORT, the 37-year-old said: "Just getting hit by that left hand over and over again, I couldn't get away from it.
"He's quick, he's strong and powerful, and he's experienced. Credit to him and his team for getting the win … I'm just disappointed, but I'll be back."
Joyce struggled to contend with Zhang's southpaw style and stinging left hand counters all evening with the Chinese fighter landing several clean shots to the eye, and once it shut he couldn’t miss as Joyce’s vision was impaired.
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The London-born heavyweight had taken a risk by agreeing to fight Zhang, who like him had won a silver medal at the Olympics, with his hopes of securing a world title fight now significantly dented.
Joyce, who had won 14 of his previous 15 professional fights via knockout, was beaten by France's Tony Yoka in the final of the Super Heavyweight event at the Rio Olympics, while Zhang finished runner-up in the same event in Beijing eight years earlier.
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