Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Fight result after devastating knockout tonight
Re-live updates from the heavyweight rematch at London’s Wembley Arena
Joe Joyce suffered a second straight loss to Zhilei Zhang on Saturday, as the Chinese heavyweight stopped the Briton once again.
Zhang, 40, dominated Joyce in April, damaging the 38-year-old’s eye to the point of closure and sealing a sixth-round stoppage. And when the pair returned to London on Saturday, it took Zhang just three rounds to repeat the trick at Wembley Arena.
Joyce looked tentative throughout the first three rounds, hesitant to engage and troubled by Zhang’s output. Then, in the final seconds of Round 3, Zhang threw a clean left cross and landed a devastating right hook, dropping Joyce heavily. It was the first time in the Briton’s career that he had hit the canvas, and he narrowly failed to beat the referee’s count after the bell sounded.
With the result, Zhang retained the WBO interim title that he took from Joyce in April, meaning a clash with official champion Oleksandr Usyk may be next for “Big Bang”.
Re-live updates from Joyce vs Zhang and the undercard fights, below.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Moses Itauma vs Amine Boucetta
Heavyweight action now, as Moses Itauma faces Amine Boucetta.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Pierce O’Leary def. Kane Gardner via unanimous decision (100-90, 99-92, 99-92).
No debate there! And still!
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 10
Final round! Gardner needs a finish. He backs up O’Leary, almost for the first time tonight, and throws out jabs.
Nothing lands to particularly good effect, however. Still, Gardner maintains the pressure, and now he’s on point with a right hook upstairs.
O’Leary circles off the ropes and into space. Gardner closes the gap, though, and the super-lightweights trade hard shots in close!
Better head movement from O’Leary now, as he jabs and moves. Gardner again closes him down, however, and lands bruising body shots.
Two hard right hooks to the head from Gardner!! But O’Leary mocks him with some pretend chicken legs as the bell goes...
The fighters embrace. Good to see.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 9
Another jab battle between O’Leary and Gardner, with O’Leary coming out on top again.
Gardner keeps at it, though, and he starts to get through!
O’Leary’s nose is leaking a bit of blood now.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 8
The super-lightweights trade jabs, before O’Leary digs a right hook into the ribcage of Gardner.
Clean right hand by Gardner, though! O’Leary responds at once with a stinging jab, snapping back his opponent’s head!
Slick head movement from O’Leary to lean back and evade a hook.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 7
O’Leary backs up Gardner, whose left eye is badly swollen now, and lands a good, hard cross! It shatters Gardner’s guard.
Gardner mounts a brief fightback, but it’s largely one-way traffic.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 6
O’Leary’s corner has done a good job of stemming the flow of blood.
Clean right hand from Gardner, who’s taken a lot of confidence from Round 5!
O’Leary tags him hard with a hook, though, and he senses a finish as Gardner’s legs buckle!!
O’Leary is chasing Gardner around the ring, landing intermittently but not putting together enough shots for a stoppage!
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 5
Really nice head movement from O’Leary, but then he gets caught! Blood starts to trickle from the corner of his left eye!!
Gardner then stops the champion in his tracks, freezing him with a few hard shots! A dangerous moment for O’Leary!
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 4
Better movement from Gardner, who lands a cross to the body.
O’Leary replies with another flurry, then a single left hand to the body. A right hand, whipped over the top now!
Gardner shrugs it off, but he’s received a few hard shots against the ropes.
Gardner with a tepid one-two to the chest, then a right cross upstairs that’s off the mark.
Gardner blocks a hook and an uppercut, but O’Leary is starting to get through again now!
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 3
Gardner opens up a bit more, but he’s made to pay for it! A clean right cross catches him on the chin.
He’s undeterred, but O’Leary continues to punish him for exposing gaps in his own defence.
Nice one-two upstairs by O’Leary.
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