JOE JOYCE’S nearest and dearest should be eternally grateful the gruesome swelling beneath his eye meant his fight with Zhilei Zhang was halted before the halfway mark.
For more than five rounds, Joyce’s head was unmercifully pounded with sickening force by his near-20-stone Chinese rival.
Because of his courage, if Joe’s right eye had not been shut tight he would have continued to take a non-stop barrage of dangerous blows until the end of the 12th and final round.
In Joyce’s 16-fight career, his teak-tough chin has been a source of wonderment – but it has probably been his own worst enemy.
Fight folk have been in awe at the way Joe manages to soak up heavy punches like blotting paper absorbs ink — he has always seemed impervious to pain.
He doesn’t help himself the way he walks forward in a straight line without seeming to think it is necessary to move his head.
Zhang, like so many before him, found it impossible to miss, constantly catching him with his best shot — a heavy-handed southpaw left.
I felt uneasy watching Joyce take such a battering and found myself wondering if, at 37, it would be wise to continue his ring career.
There’s no doubt the punters love him because he gives them full value for their money — he never takes a backward step and always comes to fight.
At his time of life, there’s not much chance of him changing his style.
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Which can only mean plenty more punishment lies ahead.
On last Saturday night’s evidence, it’s highly unlikely Joe will ever become world heavyweight champ.
It may sound harsh but because he is so easy to hit, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury would simply use him for target practice.
Yet despite my fears for his health, Joe has already committed himself to invoke the return fight clause in his contract and have another go at Zhang.
The Juggernaut may have been severely damaged in a head-on crash but the repair job is already underway.
Joe defiantly said: “Before you write me off I’m OK.
“I’ve just got a bruised eye. I think I’m OK — as fights go I’m in good health.”
Forget BS, be DAZzled
It has been suggested Saudi Arabia is willing to spend £325million to stage a mammoth December double-header — Usyk against Fury and Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua.
Where have we heard that before? We are led to believe negotiations will begin next week.
But it didn’t take long for Fury to describe the grandiose plan as “absolute BS”.
I will only believe it if contracts are signed.
Forget the big boys. If fans want a mouth-watering treat they should tune in to DAZN in the early hours of Sunday to see the long-awaited clash between three-time world champ Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas.
Both American lightweights are unbeaten.
Davis has won 26 of his 28 fights by KO and Garcia has blasted out 19 of his 23 opponents.
This could be 2023’s Fight of the Year.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
