Unbelievable Moment: Zhilei Zhang Pulls Off Massive Upset Against Unbeatable Joe Joyce

Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce are almost mirror images of one another. They are massive Southpaw heavyweights that hit harder than the norm, lack quickness, and need to be stronger on defense.

Although the two elements typically create an intriguing conflict, Joyce’s Saturday in London goes differently than planned.

Zhang frequently landed his left hand, hitting on 56% of his power blows, virtually all of which were to the head, according to CompuBox.

Early on, Joyce felt the effects of that persistent left hand. 

At 1:23 in the sixth round, referee Howard Foster called a halt to the fight due to severe swelling in the fighter’s right eye and the advice of the ringside doctor.

A big -1100 favorite to win the battle was Joyce.

With his 20th knockout, Zhang improved to 25-1-1 and earned the interim WBO heavyweight championship. It was by far the most significant victory of his career.

Zhang, 39, prevented Joyce from settling into a pattern by hitting 78 of 140 power strokes, an incredible 56 percent of his total attempts.

Joyce was undoubtedly engaged. After a somewhat sluggish beginning, he ended up firing 253 power strokes, 60 of which connected, but his defense and lack of head movement ultimately proved fatal.

 “I’m a little disappointed with my performance.” “I couldn’t get out of the way of that [left] hand he kept hitting me with.”

Joe Joyce

Joyce entered as the WBO title’s mandatory challenger, but instead of waiting, he accepted the bout against Zhang. He gets a lot of praise for it, but he lost his belt and his required job.

It was evident that Zhang, who entered the fight after his lone career defeat to Filip Hrgovic in August, was looking to exert pressure on Joyce. 

Joyce is a heavyweight who has won all 15 fights by knockout and entered the battle with a record of 14 dishes. Going downward, he frequently struggles.

Zhang, though, immediately turned it into a fight. He continued hitting his left punches and attacking Joyce with his right. The outcome was his most significant victory to date. 

He placed second in the super heavyweight division at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Still, Anthony Joshua, the eventual heavyweight champion and future gold medalist, defeated him at the 2012 Games in London.

“Today belongs to me.” “It also belongs to every Chinese [person] who showed up.”

Zhilei Zhang

Joe Joyce

Joe Joyce is a professional boxer from London, England. He is currently ranked as the #2 Heavyweight in the world by the WBA, IBF, WBO, and The Ring.

Joyce is known for his strong punching power and solid defense, as well as his ability to adapt to different fighting styles. He has a record of 12 wins and one loss, with all of his victories coming by way of knockout.

Joyce has fought many notable opponents in his career, including Ian Lewison, Lenroy Thomas, and Bryant Jennings. He is set to face Daniel Dubois in a highly anticipated heavyweight matchup on July 30, 2023.

Zhilei Zhang

Zhilei Zhang is a Chinese boxer who currently holds the WBA interim heavyweight title. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall, Zhilei has a unique combination of size and speed that has made him a force to be reckoned with in the ring.

Zhilei began his boxing career in 2011 and quickly rose through the ranks, winning numerous regional titles and earning a reputation as a formidable opponent.

In 2019, he faced off against former heavyweight champion David Haye in a highly publicized exhibition match, impressing many with his skill and power.

In 2021, Zhilei defeated former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in a closely contested match, earning himself a spot in the WBA’s top ten rankings.

He has since defended his interim title against Tomasz Adamek and Bogdan Dinu, demonstrating his ability to compete at the highest level.

Despite his relatively young age of 31, Zhilei has already achieved a great deal in his boxing career.

With his size, speed, and power, he is a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division, and many fans and analysts are eagerly anticipating his next match.

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