Joe Joyce has seen his world title hopes dashed after a shock loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang in a bout for the vacant interim WBO heavyweight title at the Copper Box Arena in London.
Referee Howard Foster called the contest off after Joyce copped a black right eye that wasso badly swollen, it was completely shut.
Joyce was widely tipped to defend his WBO interim title and defeat Zhang en route to a matchup against Dillian Whyte, but the 37-year-old went down in six rounds.
The 2016 Olympic silver medallist said he was “disappointed with (his) performance.
That was shockingly impressive by Zhang. 56% of punches landed. An absolute demolition job of a performance. And on Joe Joyce! What a force! 👀
Joe Joyce’s right eye was completely swollen shut. Photo / Getty Images
Joyce said Zhang being a southpaw was “awkward” to fight against.
“He’s an awkward style because he’s a southpaw and a powerful southpaw at that,” he said.
“I just couldn’t get away.”
Joyce struggled early in the fight, looking unsteady as early as the first round, and was never truly on top as “Big Bang Zhang” battered him with his strong right hook.
Zhang snapped Joyce’s head back with a number of big shots with his famed left hand, including a two-punch combination that had a straight left to the stomach and a strong right hook to the chin.
