Chinese Zhilei Zhang defeated Joe Joyce by a sixth-round technical knockout at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday. This defeat marked Joyce’s first professional loss, which m derailed his plans for a world title shot. 

The ringside doctor inspected Joyce’s swollen eye twice before stopping the match in the sixth round. Zhang, who is a 39-year-old southpaw with an accomplished amateur career, was not considered the favorite, but he proved to be a formidable opponent for Joyce.

Joyce, the mandatory challenger for unified champion Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO title, was commended for his tough chin and his performance in the past, but he struggled to withstand Zhang’s heavy shots. Zhang hurt Joyce twice with big lefts in the opening round, and Joyce was left struggling to find an answer for Zhang’s power throughout the match. Joyce’s blood began to pour from his nose, and his eyes were marked up and swollen.

Joyce desperately needed to fight back in the fourth round, but his eye started to close, and there were concerns from his team that the fight could be halted. While the ringside doctor inspected Joyce between the fifth and sixth rounds, Zhang acknowledged the crowd. The fight continued, but Joyce’s eyesight was clearly hindered, and he was repeatedly peppered by Zhang’s punches. Referee Howard Foster recalled the doctor in the sixth round before deciding to stop the fight, potentially saving Joyce from any long-lasting damage.

The loss has left Joyce disappointed, and he apologized to his fans and supporters for his performance. However, he is determined to continue his journey and overcome this setback. Joyce is a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, and he was on the cusp of a world title shot before his loss to Zhang.

Losing the WBC interim title was not something he had expected. Joyce, who entered the ring to the theme tune of sci-fi film Terminator, looked robotic in his performance. He has been guilty of starting slow in the past, but even he was shocked by Zhang’s fiery start to the fight, which hurt Joyce twice with big lefts.

Despite the loss, Joyce thanked his supporters and congratulated Zhang for his victory. The defeat may have derailed Joyce’s plans, but he has shown resilience in the past and is likely to bounce back.

Leon Osamor