JOE JOYCE provided an update on his sickening eye injury and called for a rematch with Zhilei Zhang.
The 2016 Olympic silver medallist suffered defeat for the first time in his professional career at the hands of China’s Zhang.
A series of left hands and combinations left Joyce’s eye grotesquely swollen to the point of no continue.
Referee Howard Foster waved off the contest in round six on the advice of the ringside doctor.
Joyce, 37, went to hospital following the loss but left with no fractures being detected in his check.
And he spoke out just days after the bout to confirm he is well and wants a rematch with Zhang, 39.
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He posted: “Before you all write me off I’m OK just got a bruised eye. I think I’ll be OK, as fights go I’m in good health.
“Not a great performance however, but I’ll go back to the drawing board and have to improve.
“Zhang was the better fighter on the night, but I still think I can beat him, even though he’s a strong contender.”
Joyce surrendered his WBO interim title and mandatory shot for the full belt held by Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
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But he can win it all back if he invokes the rematch clause in his contract, which Zhang has welcomed.
He told iFL TV: “Let’s see what Joe Joyce wants to do. If he wants a rematch, I’m here.”
Speaking through a translator, Zhang added: “I still respect him. Actually, I respect him more after the fight.
“I feel like he’s a great fighter, very tough. He gave me a lotta pressure, but I made it through.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
