JOE JOYCE WILL defend his WBO Interim World Heavyweight title towards the Chinese language big Zhilei Zhang on the Copper Field Area on Saturday, 15 April, stay on BT Sport.
Will probably be a primary defence of the belt for the ‘Massive Juggernaut’ Joyce, 15-0 (14 KOs), who put himself first in line for a shot on the full WBO title with an exciting victory over Joseph Parker in September of final yr in Manchester.
Tickets for the showdown between Joyce and Zhang on Saturday, 15 April on the Copper Field Area go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 15 February from ticketmaster.co.uk. Followers are inspired to sign-up for Ticket Alerts to obtain the ticket hyperlink on to their inbox forward of tickets occurring sale.
With the present unified champion Oleksandr Usyk anticipated to struggle for the standing of undisputed towards WBC ruler Tyson Fury this yr, the 37-year-old Joyce will bolster his personal heavyweight credentials by taking over the 6ft 6″ southpaw who resides in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
‘Massive Bang’ Zhang, 24-1-1 (19 KOs) final noticed motion over in Jeddah in August when he fought in an IBF closing eliminator towards the Croatian Filip Hrgovic. The 39-year-old was declared the loser by way of the judges’ scorecards, however many commentators believed him to have gained after dominating the early phases of the struggle.
The Chinese language fighter now will get the chance to place himself on this planet title body as soon as once more on what shall be a primary skilled go to to the capital for the southpaw.
“It’s a nice struggle,” reacted Joyce to his first defence being set. “He had a tricky struggle towards Hrgovic however I assumed he gained the struggle. Zhang is a giant, robust southpaw who is very large, and he has been to the Olympics and all that. So, he has the expertise and I feel it is going to be an important struggle.
“He bangs so I should be careful for it. As Hrgovic and I’ve an identical type, that they had an important struggle, so once we struggle it must be entertaining.
“Will probably be carnage within the centre of the ring! I’ve misplaced my mood a number of occasions in sparring and as soon as was towards a come-forward southpaw who was attempting to knock me out. It was an thrilling spar.
“I feel with me and Zhang there shall be actual heavy punches exchanged and I’m positive it is going to be struggle. Will probably be preparation for Usyk or Fury, plus I haven’t fought a southpaw since I gained the Commonwealth title towards Lenroy Thomas.”
“It’s a brand new chapter in my profession,” Zhilei Zhang added on the crunch heavyweight conflict on the Copper Field. “I’m all the time up for the problem and when the chance rings the bell. Joe Joyce and I share loads in widespread – we each are Olympic silver medalists, each are large punchers, and are almost the identical dimension. That is going to be an explosive, epic and great struggle.
“I wish to thank my crew and Joyce’s crew for placing this collectively. I need all my followers in UK to point out up and benefit from the occasion. Can’t wait to get within the ring on April fifteenth.”
“That is one other cracker of a card that must be in line with the particular night time all of us simply loved at Wembley,” stated promoter Frank Warren. “We wish to hold Massive Joe busy whereas the heavyweight title scene unfolds however there will be no straightforward touches in a defence of his WBO Interim title. Zhilei Zhang is something however a straightforward contact, he’s a formidable powerhouse who can think about himself unfortunate to not be nonetheless an unbeaten contender following his struggle with Filip Hrgovic final yr.
“Zhang being a southpaw ticks a big field for Joe, with Usyk being a left-hander and Tyson carrying the power to undertake both stance. That’s what we wish subsequent for Joe and hopefully it is going to be an enormous all-British collision towards Tyson.”
“This can be a nice struggle for boxing and an important alternative for Zhilei,” stated Terry Lane, Zhang’s supervisor. “As soon as once more, he takes on a problem that many are working from. There shall be fireworks in London on 15 April.”
The undercard shall be introduced sooner or later with a bunch of Queensberry’s established and rising stars to be added to the invoice.
Tickets for the showdown between Joyce and Zhang on 15 April on the Copper Field Area on Saturday, 15 April go on sale at 11am on Wednesday, 15 February from ticketmaster.co.uk. Followers are inspired to sign-up for Ticket Alerts to obtain the ticket hyperlink on to their inbox forward of tickets occurring sale.