Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang preview: Zhang’s power can Lei out Joyce

Following on from their previous meeting in April, Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang will take to the ring again as they face off in Wembley Arena on Saturday 23rd of September.

As Joyce looks to get his own back and Zhang tries to keep hold of the WBO interim heavyweight title, we preview both fighters below.

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Zhang to utilise devastating power

Zhilei Zhang will be coming into the second edition of this rivalry with the form to back him up, having won their previous meeting at the Copper Box Arena back in April.

Despite being 39 years of age, Zhang has really risen to prominence in the past couple of years. His first notable fight on a worldwide level came against number 10 ranked heavyweight Filip Hrgovic. This was the first time Zhang had fought all 12 rounds, with the results a unanimous win for Hrgovic.

Zhang got himself back on the winning train as he defeated Joyce to steal the WBO Interim heavyweight title from the Brit. Zhang’s power hitting was the main problem for Joyce as he delivered devastating blows, which led to Joyce’s vision being impaired by a swollen eye.

This fight looks as though it will be another tight bout with Zhang the narrow 4/5 favourite, and he will be looking to end proceedings before the final bell. A win by KO, TKO or DQ looks his most likely method of victory at 6/4, whilst favour falls towards Joyce the longer the fight lasts as Zhang is 9/2 to win by decision.

Stamina could be the key for Joyce

Joe Joyce will not be happy with how their previous bout ended, and in front of a home crowd at the Copper Box he would have been hoping to pick up the win. This fight will once again be on Joyce’s home turf as Wembley Arena plays host to what he will be hoping to be a night of revenge and glory.

The Brit’s odds of Evens make him the narrow underdog in this fight, but with uncontrollable swelling of his right eye being his downfall in the last fight, he will hope for luck to fall on his side and will fancy himself as the better boxer on equal terms.

Joyce is by no means a weak hitter, standing at 6 feet and six inches and 116kg, and his punches are certainly power packed. Joyce has seen two of his last five fights go 10 or more rounds and at 3/1 to win by decision, compared to Zhang at 9/2, the Brit will fancy his chances if he can drag the fight to the final bell.

Despite stamina being on Joyce’s side he has never been shy of unleashing his power early. Four of his 14 wins by KO or TKO have come in the first round and ‘The Juggernaut’ is 100/1 to flatten Zhang in round 1.