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: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 2
O’Leary moves forward behind the jab, then misses with a winging overhand right.
Gardner backs up and covers up. Lovely, quick flurry of straight punches from O’Leary now.
More pressure from O’Leary, more straight shots. Gardner is yet to get into this fight.
O’Leary just misses with an uppercut.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Round 1
O’Leary staggers Gardner with a hard right hook to the body!
It’s the standout moment in a comfortable round for O’Leary, who presses forward all throughout.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Pierce O’Leary vs Kane Gardner
Next up, Pierce O’Leary defends his WBC international super-lightweight title!
He takes on Kane Gardner.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
Zach Parker def. Khalid Graidia via seventh-round TKO (3:00).
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
It’s all over! It’s called off between rounds! Graidia’s team decide that he’s had enough.
That’s a fair call, in all honesty.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
Round 7
Parker is in control all throughout the seventh round, backing up Graidia to the ropes, holding him, and hammering him with right straights to the cheek.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
Round 6
More front-foot boxing from Parker, who’s looked very impressive so far tonight.
Brutal left hook to the body by him now, after he slips to the left of Graidia’s jab.
Another heavy hook to the body by Parker!! He follows up with a flurry of short uppercuts to the head.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
Round 5
Two hard rear uppercuts from Parker, plus a hook in between! Brilliant stuff!
There’s a brief pause in the action as Graidia catches Parker a little below the belt.
We’re back under way, and Parker unloads a terrific combination, varying his angles and targets as he unloads to the head and body of Graidia!
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
Round 4
Teasing southpaw cross from Parker. Graidia backs him up but doesn’t pull the trigger.
Another hard right hook upstairs by Parker! Graidia again forces him back to the ropes, and this time he unloads, briefly making Parker uncomfortable.
Joyce vs Zhang 2 LIVE: Zach Parker vs Khalid Graidia
Round 3
More clean shots from Parker, who’s finding gaps in Graidia’s guard off both wings.
Graidia finally mounts a bit of a comeback, using his right hand well, but he’s behind here.
Nice body shot from Parker, who then catches Graidia on the end of a long right hand.
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