JOE JOYCE has LOST by TKO to Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang after suffering severe damage to his right eye.The former Team GB star hoped to retain the title – and his status as the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed strap – with a sixth stoppage victory in a row.
But Chinese clubber Zhang had other ideas – ending his reign as interim champ with a sixth-round TKO victory courtesy of a doctor stoppage.
RESULT: Zhilei Zhang beat Joe Joyce by TKO
Live stream: BT Sport website
TV channel: BT Sport 1
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Eye can’t see, doc
Joe Joyce saw his fight with Zhilei Zhang waved off after the ringside doctor deemed him unable to continue.
The heavyweight’s world title dreams have been hugely dented after his right eye was left gruesomely swollen.
Referee Howard Foster twice took Joyce, 37, over to the doc, who assessed the damage and extent of the injury.
On the second occasion, cameras caught the moment the medic covered Joyce’s left eye and asked how many fingers he was holding up.
The Londoner did return the correct answers – in two and one – but the damage was already done.
Foster was advised to wave off the fight and Zhang, 39, was handed a shock technical knockout win after six rounds.
Credit: BT Sport
Credit: BT Sport
Question marks over the scores
Joe Joyce was beaten and battered by Zhilei Zhang across six brutal rounds at the Copper Box.
But incredibly one judge had the Brit WINNING against the Chinese heavyweight before Joyce was pulled out.
Joyce’s right eye was horribly swollen and he could barely see as Big Bang Zhang went to town on the Putney powerhouse.
Somehow, though, one judge had Joyce in front, sparking fury among fans.
One said: “Joyce up by one… never in a million years.”
Another wrote: “Whichever judge has Joyce up on the scorecard should probably be investigated.”
At last
Hall of Fame trainer Teddy Atlas believes Anthony Joshua might feel more enticed to fight Joyce now.
He tweeted: “Silver lining in every dark cloud, and for Joyce it might be that this poor performance will now entice Joshua to fight him.”
Joshing around
Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has reacted to Joyce’s stoppage loss.
He posted a picture of AJ with the words: “Been there done it and seen it all.”
Good Joyce ref
Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan believes Joyce would have been knocked out had the fight continued any longer.
He wrote on Twitter: “Zhang was always going to be dangerous early on BUT I genuinely did not believe he could hurt Joyce the way he did.
“Had the ref let the fight go on he would have KO’ed Joyce because he couldn’t see the Zhang backhand and his right hook was shaking Joe badly.”
Credit: PA
Not worth the weight
Former cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli believes Joyce dropping weight proved to be his downfall.
Maccarinelli tweeted: “Great performance by Zhang he was excellent from the start can see his pedigree but I still believe Joyce losing a stone in weight didn’t help him in there tonight don’t know if it would’ve changed anything but I just think it was a wrong move.”
Credit: Getty
Chis to that
Derek Chisora has called out Zhilei Zhang.
Chisora refused to retire following defeat to Tyson Fury in December and has set his sights on Zhang.
He tweeted: “I want this fight. Chinese power.”
Cold call
Coach Dave Coldwell reckons Joyce’s fan-friendly style caught up to him.
Coldwell tweeted: “Again, Joe Joyce was great to watch from a fans point of view. Tough as nails.
“But If you have no defence you’re going to pick up damage.”
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
How about it
Referee Howard Foster has been praised by trainer Shane McGuigan for stopping the fight when he did.
McGuigan tweeted: “Nasty eye there! Hoping Joyce is ok & speedy recovery.
“Zhang was calm with his attacks & performed great. Great call from Howard Foster.”
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Being Frank
Joyce’s promoter Frank Warren has backed the beaten heavyweight to bounce back from defeat.
Warren tweeted: “Two absolute warriors who deserve all the credit in the world.
“Joyce will be back no questions. Congratulations to Zhilei Zhang whose been an absolute credit to himself.”
Credit: Getty
Croll to be kind
Ex-world champion Anthony Crolla has hailed Joyce for his classy response to defeat.
Crolla tweeted: “Joe Joyce handled that unbelievably well post fight. Thought Zhang was very good, left hand was some weapon.
“Was Joe a bit too light?? Would of he got to Zhang second half of fight?? Credit to Zhang tho was a very good performance.”
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
At last
Hall of Fame trainer Teddy Atlas believes Anthony Joshua might feel more enticed to fight Joyce now.
He tweeted: “Silver lining in every dark cloud, and for Joyce it might be that this poor performance will now entice Joshua to fight him.”
Ben there done than
Tyson Fury’s former coach Ben Davison was full of praise for Zhang’s tactics in the fight.
Davison tweeted: “Zhang is a clever fighter. Created a comfortable environment before making Joe pay, Rinsed and repeated.
“Neglected the body which may have taken Joes work rate away from him down the stretch… if it got there.
“Gutted for Joe, of course, he’s a topman, He’ll be back.”
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Joshing around
Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has reacted to Joyce’s stoppage loss.
He posted a picture of AJ with the words: “Been there done it and seen it all.”
Eye caramba
This is how Joyce’s eye was left following the six-round beating to Zhang.
The referee and ringside doctor had no choice other than to wave it off.
Joyce could now be in line for a rematch with Zhang in China.
Credit: PA
Closing out
Joe Joyce’s world title dreams were shut down with his battered right eye by Zhilei Zhang in a bloody shock.
The 37-year-old Putney ace just needed to come through the 39-year-old Chinese southpaw to secure a summer showdown with ringside Dillian Whyte, before finally securing a world title shot in the winter.
But he made a typically terrible start to the bout, was battered for almost every moment of the six one-sided rounds and had to be pulled out by the referee on advice from the doctor.
The fact he was still standing after the second round was incredible but Joyce’s famously solid chin just meant his eyes were left to absorb all of the punishment.
With Joyce’s mother registered blind, the idea of him suffering serious long-term damage like that was too much to bear for anyone watching, with knowledge of the family.
So there was relief when our Rio 2016 Olympic silver winner was pulled out of the fight – without going out on his shield.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Joyce words
Zhang says: “Today belongs to me. It belongs to everyone who showed up, belongs to every Chinese that showed up.
“Im 39 years old but I’m disciplined, I train hard. Next step I’m gong for the title.”
Joyce says: “I’m just disappointed with my performance.
“The right hand he just kept hitting me with, I just couldn’t get out of the way so respect for Zhilei Zhang big bang.
“I twas a good fight, I could have done better because I haven’t fought a southpaw for so long but credit to him because he’s a good fighter.
“I gave it my all, I think i could do better but it’s just disappointing. I expected to win like I normally do but thanks to all the support and congratulations.”
Credit: Reuters
Joyce vs Zhang
Zhang could not miss with the left hand and Joyce just could not get out of the way of it.
Right call to end the fight, Joyce’s eye is completely shut and it was only going to get worse.
Zhang is now mandatory for Oleksandr Usyk’s title but could have to rematch Joyce down the line.
Credit: PA
Joyce vs Zhang
THE FIGHT IS OVER!
Joyce is deemed unable to continue with his right eye completely closed, causing a TKO for Zhang.
Massive upset for Zhang, who hands Joyce his first defeat and inherits the WBO interim title and mandatory title position.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Joyce vs Zhang
Round 6 – The doctor has cleared Joyce to fight but for who long, who knows?
If it’s stopped Zhang will be declared the winner by technical KO – so Joyce needs to get going.
Zhang unleashes a flurry of combination, he must sense victory is near.
Credit: Getty
Joyce vs Zhang
Round 5 – Joyce come out swinging, launching attacks to the body.
Zhang lands two left hands down the pipe in succession, Joyce just can’t seem to get out of the way of it.
Joyce ends the round on top but his eye is gruesomely swollen, the doctor might have to take a look at this.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Joyce vs Zhang
Round 4 – Early left hand break through Joyce’s guard, lovely shot from Zhang.
Joyce comes forward with a combination but Zhang lands TWO left hands and it’s really good work from the Chinese star.
Right hand comes over the top from Joyce but it’s been a slow start from the 2016 Olympian.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Joyce vs Zhang
Round 3 – Joyce has come out on the front foot but Zhang is firing in sharp left hand counters.
Left hand fires in from Zhang but Joyce returns fire with a combination, it’s really hotting up now.
Joyce is marked up, bleeding and bruised but is starting to warm into the contest now.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Joyce vs Zhang
Round 2 – Joyce makes it through the round but has suffered a really nervy start here.
He’s bleeding from the face and was on shaky legs after a big left hand.
Great start for Zhang but Joyce needs to desperately turn this around.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Joyce vs Zhang
Round 2 – Joyce lunges in with a right but Zhang counters with a left.
Lovely hook and straight left combination from Zhang, who puts Joyce on his heels.
Big shot from Zhang and Joyce is shaken! Could be in trouble here…
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