Putney’s Joe Joyce targets mega-fights in heavyweight division – but first comes Zhilei Zhang test

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Joe Joyce makes the first defence of his WBO Interim world heavyweight title against Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box Arena tomorrow night.

The 37-year-old Olympian, who boxed as an amateur for Earlsfield ABC, is unbeaten in 15 professional bouts and has held all the major belts – British, Commonwealth and European – on his rise up the rankings.

Joyce knocked out Joseph Parker in the 11th round in September to become the WBO’s Interim champion – regular champion Oleksandr Usyk is obliged to meet Daniel Dubois, his WBA mandatory challenger, after talks over a unification against Tyson Fury broke down.

China’s Zhang, 39, suffered his first loss last time out. Despite knocking down Filip Hrgovic in the first round he was on the wrong end of a close but unanimous points defeat.

Joyce is targeting the leading lights in the division. He said: “I’m in the mix now.

“I’m WBO Interim and I was hoping the undisputed fight (between Fury and Usyk) would be happening. In the meantime I’m going to have a really great fight against Zhilei Zhang. He is a fellow Olympian silver medallist and he’s a southpaw – that leads on to fighting the likes of Fury or Uysk.

“It will be good to get back in with a southpaw, I haven’t fought one since Lenroy Thomas, that was for the Commonwealth title in my fourth fight.

“It is important not to overlook my opponent. Zhilei Zhang has got a big bang. He had a very close decision with Hrgovic and I thought he could’ve won that fight.

“I expect to knock him out. I never really want to do 12 rounds. I want to put my shots together and get him out of there when I see the opening and opportunity. It’s risky because he can punch hard and he’s a big guy.

“He’s dangerous. I could’ve had an easier one. I noticed in his last fight he started to fade in the later rounds. But I’ve also seen his training – swimming and plenty of stuff in the pool – he and this team will be working hard on things they will try and exploit.”

Brixton cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain is set to challenge British champion Mikael Lawal at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium on May 27.

Chamberlain, 29, lost a unanimous verdict to Chris Billam-Smith in July with the Commonwealth and European titles up for grabs.

Billam-Smith headlines next month’s show as he takes on WBO world champion Lawrence Okolie.

Lawal, from Shepherd’s Bush, has described Chamberlain as “disrespectful” for challenging him in the ring immediately after he secured the domestic crown.

“He (Lawal) can punch but everyone in our division can,” said Chamberlain. “Look at the people he has been knocking out – two wins and 47 losses.

“This is a different level. I’m trying to be the best I can be and grabbing this British title is a stepping stone to get to where I want to be.”