By: Sean Crose
It’s definitely an interesting heavyweight fight. Queensbury Promotions announced that “Joe Joyce will defend her WBO interim world heavyweight title against Chinese giants Zhilei Zhang at Copper Box Arena on Saturday, April 15, live continue on BT Sport.” Joyce has become one of boxing’s top rising stars, much less at heavyweight after beating former world champion Joseph Parker last October. The Englishman 15-0 won all of his skirmishes, saving 1 from long range. A fight in London with an opponent of Zhang’s caliber is another solid step in the right direction for the 37-year-old.
Joyce said: “It was a great fight. “He (Zhang) had a difficult game against Hrgovic but I think he won the match. Zhang is a big, strong, and big, southbound limber, and he’s been to the Olympics and all that. So he’s experienced and I think it’s going to be a great fight…He’s banging so I’ll have to watch out. Since Hrgovic and I have similar playstyles, they had a very good fight, so when we fight, it will be interesting.” The towering Zhang’s final battle saw the US-based fighter – via China – make the decision for Filip Hrgovic in August.
However, Zhang 24-1-1 is not an easy opponent for Joyce. While Joyce is without a doubt the favorite when it comes to this, Zhang is eager not to let failure alone become a barrier in his career. “It’s a new chapter in my career,” he said. “I am always ready to take on challenges when opportunities arise. Joe Joyce and I have a lot in common – we’re both Olympic silver medalists, both great boxers and roughly the same size. It’s going to be an explosive, epic and huge fight.”
Promoter Frank Warren eagerly points out that Joyce, who is looking for big fights with world celebrities like Tyson Fury and Olesandr Usyk, is taking on a risky fight here. “Zhilei Zhang is anything but an easy touch,” says Warren. “He’s a formidable powerhouse who might consider himself unlucky not to be an undefeated contender after last year’s match against Filip Hrgovic.” It can be said, Joyce-Zhang is an extremely important fight for both of them, as a victory can lead to greater things. Much bigger things.
