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Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang fight details – time, date, TV channel, undercard, schedule, venue, betting odds, predictions

Written by Tim Rickson on 3rd April 2023.

How to watch Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang

Clash of the Silver Olympians

'Juggernaut' Joe Joyce (15-0, 14KO) meets 'Big Bang' Zhilei Zhang (24-1-1, 19KO) on the 105th day of the year and BBN have provided all the details you need to tune in and watch heavyweight clash, where the winner could be in line to fight for the WBO World title next, currently in possession of Oleksandr Usyk.

Everything you need to know about Joyce-Zhang below:

Fight Details

Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Venue: Copper Box Arena, London.

Times: Doors open at 4:30pm, first bell at 5pm.

Ringwalks: Ringwalks any time around 10pm GMT.

Tickets: Tickets on sale from AXS.com

Rounds scheduled: 12×3 Championship rounds at heavyweight (+200lbs).

Titles: Joyce defends his WBO Interim title.

Undercard Highlights: Battersea's Denzel Bentley (17-2-1, 14KO) defends his British middleweight title to Scotland's Kieran Smith (18-1, 7KO).

How to Watch

TV Coverage: TV coverage from 7pm to 12am on BT Sport 1 (Channel 413) – £25 per month subscripton fees.

Undercard: The undercard will be shown live and free on Queensberry YouTube Channel from 5pm.

Live Stream: You can live stream the Queensberry Promotions event online via BT Sport website or BT Sport app – available to download for free on iOS and Android phones and tablets.

Social Media: You can also keep up date with the action by following the BT 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

Background

37-year-old putney puncher Joyce will bolster his own heavyweight credentials by taking on the 6ft 6" Chinese southpaw who resides in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Both boxers are Olympic Silver medallists.

'Big Bang' Zhang last saw action over in Jeddah in August when he fought in an IBF final eliminator against Croatian Filip Hrgovic. The 39-year-old was declared the loser via the judges' scorecards, but many believed him to have won after dominating the early stages of the fight, which included a first round knockdown. The Chinese fighter now gets the opportunity to put himself in the world title frame once again on what will be a first professional visit to the capital for the southpaw. Last time in London, he lost to Anthony Joshua in the 2012 Olympics. Zhilei Zhang Facts

Quotes

Joyce: "It is a great fight. He had a tough fight against Hrgovic but I thought he won the fight. Zhang is a big, strong southpaw who is massive, and he has been to the Olympics and all that. So, he has the experience and I think it will be a great fight. He bangs so I will have to watch out for it. As Hrgovic and I have a similar style, they had a great fight, so when we fight it should be entertaining.

“It will be carnage in the centre of the ring! I have lost my temper a few times in sparring and once was against a come-forward southpaw who was trying to knock me out. It was an exciting spar. I think with me and Zhang there will be real heavy punches exchanged and I am sure it will be a good fight. It will be a good preparation for Usyk or Fury, plus I haven't fought a southpaw since I won the Commonwealth title against Lenroy Thomas.”

Zhang: “It’s a new chapter in my career. I am always up for the challenge and when the opportunity rings the bell. Joe Joyce and I share a lot in common – we both are Olympic silver medalists, both are big punchers, and are nearly the same size. This is going to be an explosive, epic and tremendous fight. I want to thank my team and Joyce’s team for putting this together. I want all my fans in UK to show up and enjoy the event. Can’t wait to get in the ring on April 15th.”

Press conference quotes

Predictions

Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “I also think that Zhang won his fight against Hrgovic, but it was close still, so not a complete robbery, which is a strong word. His punches looked very accurate and has power in both hands. He took a few back too, though. Against Joyce, leaving his head on the firing line like that will have dreadful consquences. I also believe Joyce will set a pace that Zhang won't be comfortable with, who has been known to fade in fights. I predict Joyce to be his usual relentless self and beat Zhang into submission any time after round six. He's a big guy, so I can see Zhang being stopped on his feet.”

More predictions

Tale of the Tape

Joyce
Age: 37
Bouts: 15
Rounds: 74
Wins: 15
Losses: 0
Draws: 0
KO Wins: 14
KOs: 93.33%
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6’ 6”
Reach: 80”
BoxRec: #5

Zhang
Age: 39
Bouts: 26
Rounds: 84
Wins: 24
Losses: 1
Draws: 1
KO Wins: 19
KOs: 73.08%
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6’ 6”
BoxRec: #30

Betting Odds (Betway)

1/10 Joyce
5/1 Zhang
22/1 Draw

Weights

Joe Joyce 256lbs: Joyce tipped the scales over a stone lighter than his last fight with Joseph Parker last year. The last time Joyce weighed in this light was almost four years ago, against Bryant Jennings, which was his only fight of his career to go the distance.

Zhilei Zhang 278lbs: Zhang weighed in a career joint-heaviest of 278lbs for a second time in his 26-fight career, which is over a stone and a half heavier than Joyce.

Running Order

Undercard:
Joel Kodua vs Seamus Devlin
4×3 Super-welterweight contest

Seth Gyimah vs Darryl Sharp
4×3 Light-heavyweight contest

Sonny Ali vs Richard Helm
6×3 Welterweight contest

Eithan James vs TBA
8×3 Welterweight contest

Moses Itauma vs Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko
6×3 Heavyweight contest

Sam Noakes vs Karthik Sathish Kumar
12×3 Commonwealth & WBC International Silvver lightweight title

Chief Support:
David Bentley vs Kieran Smith
12×3 British middleweight title

Co-Main Event:
Mikaela Mayer vs Christina Linardatou
10×2 Vacant WBC Interim lightweight title