Zhilei Zhang interview: ‘Fighting Joe Joyce was enjoyable – rematch will be the same’
Daniel Dubois went residence with an orbital fracture when shedding to his British rival three years in the past. Joseph Parker, who misplaced his world title to Anthony Joshua, labelled Joyce his “toughest challenge” after defeat final September. And then there’s Zhang.
“It’s quite enjoyable to be in the ring with him,” he tells Standard Sport, by way of Free Bets.
“He’s not moving his head, he’s not changing his position and angles. That makes my job easier.”
‘The Juggernaut’ had been an apt nickname for Joyce, a person bowling in the direction of a world title shot with a collection of relentless, if considerably cumbersome, performances. That was till April 15 earlier this yr on the Copper Box, when Zhang took his unbeaten document and with it the WBO interim title.
Joyce was badly damage in six punishing rounds earlier than the referee waved it off, his proper eye swollen shut by that time. Just as alarming to him would have been the convenience with which Zhang appeared to take his pictures.
“He is definitely heavy-handed, but not as heavy as I would have imagined,” Zhang says.
As it stands, Zhang shall be in line for a compulsory shot at Oleksandr Usyk when the rotation system subsequent requires the Ukrainian to fulfil his WBO necessities.
To stay on the entrance of the queue although, the 40-year-old should beat Joyce for a second time, with the pair assembly on Saturday evening at Wembley Arena after the British heavyweight activated his rematch clause.
Zhang had been in talks over a summer bout with Tyson Fury earlier than he was knowledgeable Joyce needed to right away pursue revenge.
“I was a little surprised when I first heard about the rematch,” Zhang admits.
“It’s in the contract, I knew he would activate it one way or another. But I didn’t expect it to be so fast. I would have expected him to fight one or two interim bouts in between, get used to a style and then take the rematch.”
Joyce’s best energy as knowledgeable has been his sturdiness, however that propensity to make use of a hitherto granite chin as the principle line of defence proved problematic in April. Is Zhang anticipating a extra cautious strategy from his opponent this time?
“It’s not rocket science that you can’t change to a different style in a few months,” Zhang says. “That’s why the second fight will end even quicker.”
Only George Foreman has received a heavyweight world title past the age of 40, however Zhang is assured he can double the membership of that exact membership as he eyes the belts held by Fury and Usyk.
“I don’t do anything other than eat, sleep and train,” he says.
“At this age, I still feel I can compete for the heavyweight title. I am 100% confident that I will beat all these guys.”