How to watch Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang rematch
'Juggernaut' Joe Joyce (15-1, 14KO) and 'Big Bang' Zhilei Zhang (25-1-1, 20KO) will collide tonight, September 23, at the OVO Arena, Wembley, for the Chinese southpaw's WBO Interim World heavyweight title over 12 rounds, and BBN have provided everything you need to know to tune in and watch the highly anticipated rematch.
How to Watch
YouTube: Catch the first three fights from 5:30pm on the Queensberry YouTube Channel
TNT Sports: TV coverage from 7:30pm-12am on TNT Sports 2 – £25 per month subscripton fees.
Live Stream: You can live stream the Queensberry Promotions event online via TNT Sport website or BT Sport app – available to download for free on iOS and Android phones and tablets.
Social Media: You can keep up date with the action by following the TNT Sport Boxing account on Twitter, as well as the official Frank Warren Twitter account
Live Results: BBN will be providing LIVE updates on the night, right HERE
How to Watch in the U.S: The event will stream live and exclusively in America on ESPN+ at 2pm ET / 11am PT
Background
Five months ago, Chinese southpaw Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang shook up the heavyweight division with a suprise upset over British superstar Joe Joyce.
Zhang (25-1-1, 20 KOs), who at 6’6 and 275-plus pounds more than lives up to his nickname, captured an Olympic silver medal for his home country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He turned pro in 2014 and compiled a 24-0-1 record before losing a controversial decision to Filip Hrgovic last August. Less than eight months later, he faced Joyce at London’s Copper Box Arena, peppering the Brit with lefts until the ringside physician stopped the fight in round six due to the swelling engulfing Joyce’s right eye. Zhang snatched Joyce’s WBO interim world title in the process.
Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs), a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, hopes to exact revenge in his hometown. Before the first Zhang fight, “The Juggernaut” was known as boxing’s immovable force, stopping top contenders Carlos Takam, Daniel Dubois, and Joseph Parker during a five-fight knockout streak. Joyce turned pro in October 2017 and won the Commonwealth title in his fourth outing.
Quotes
Joyce: “I’m coming back to take back what’s mine. September 2nd I am leaving everything in that ring. No compromises. No underestimating my opponent. Nothing, but a win. Last time out I lost my undefeated professional record. It was hard to take. But after the dust settled, all that will do is make me better. I’ve learned lessons. I’m ready. And I am coming for everything.”
Zhang: “I created history last time. And I believe the best way to inherit history is to create new ones. I look at the rematch as if it was a new fight; I look at Joe Joyce as if I never fought him before. I started from zero and this is the new self.”
Predictions
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “I thought Joyce would stop Zhang in round six last time, but was completely wrong. Aged 40, with little head movement, I could see Joyce landing regularly on Zhang, but he wasn't actually able to because he was being met by a clever, thudding, ramrod jab every time, as well as that swiping right hook and powerful backhand straight left that couldn't miss. I would like to think Joyce can make the adjustments needed to deal with the tricky southpaw, but there's not much capacity for change at his advanced age and stage of career. Now 38, Joyce was being bombed on from the first bell, took some big, big shots from the Chinese contender and it was no suprise to see the damage that was eventually caused by such a peppering, the Londoner was wobbled as early as round two. Zhang did to Joyce what Joyce did to Dubois. 40-year-old Zhilei will likely be the same fighter, perhaps even more confident than ever, knowing what he can do to his opponent, whereas Joyce could be smarter and improved, but how much different could he really be? I think the first fight was fairly even, just with the visitor landing the cleaner, bigger blows, so I think this rematch should be similar, but Zhang will continue where he left off by landing big shots on a static, stand up tall, easy to hit target.
“Zhang to win by stoppage again, but a bit later on this time, in the second half of fight. I'm not writing off Joyce though, because he has to win this fight, he's got no choice other than to win.”
Tale of the Tape
Joyce
Age: 38
Bouts: 16
Rounds: 80
Wins: 15
Losses: 1
Draws: 0
KO Wins: 14
KOs: 93.33%
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6’ 6”
Reach: 80”
BoxRec: #8
Zhang
Age: 40
Bouts: 27
Rounds: 90
Wins: 25
Losses: 1
Draws: 1
KO Wins: 20
KOs: 80%
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6’ 6”
BoxRec: #6
Betting Odds (Betway)
1/1 Joyce
17/20 Zhang
18/1 Draw
Running Order
Queensberry YouTube Channel 5:30pm:
6×3 Welterweight Contest
Sean Noakes vs Lukasz Barabasz
6×3 Cruiserweight Contest
Tommy Fletcher vs Alberto Tapia
8×3 Light-Heavyweight Contest
Ezra Taylor vs Joel McIntrye
TNT Sports 2 7:30pm:
6×3 Cruiserweight Contest
Aloys Jr vs Eric Nazarayan
6×3 Super-Featherweight Contest
Royston Barney-Smith vs Engel Gomez
10×3 Super-Middleweight Contest
Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
10×3 WBC International Super-Lightweight Championship
Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
6×3 Heavyweight Contest
Moses Itauma vs Amine Boucetta
10×3 Light-Heavyweight Contest
Anthony Yarde vs Jorge Silva
Main Event 10:30pm:
12×3 WBO interim Heavyweight World Championship
Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce
Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce 2 fight preview & prediction
Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce 2 fight predictions
How to watch Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce 2 in the U.S.
Facts about Zhilei Zhang
Article sponsored by HÖRFA