Zhilei Zhang successfully damaged Joe Joyce’s reputation after winning a TKO in the sixth round in the fight for the WBO interim heavyweight championship belt at the Copper Box Arena, Sunday (16/4/2023) WIB / Photo: BBC Sport
Zhang really appeared aggressive in this fight. He didn’t give Joyce a chance to hurt her body and face.
Until finally Zhang’s crushing blow succeeded in making Joyce’s eye hurt. Referee Howard Foster was forced to intervene to see the British boxer’s condition before finally deciding to stop the fight in the sixth round after Joyce experienced swelling in the eye.
For Zhang, this was his first win of the year after he lost to Filip Hrgovic in August 2022 in an IBF title fight.
“Today is mine. Today is mine, belongs to everyone who shows up, belongs to every Chinese (Chinese) who shows up. I am 39 years old, but I am disciplined, I am training hard and my next step is chasing the title,” Zhang said post-fight.
(fly)