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Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce Heavyweight
Rematch Set For Sept. 23 In London
Five months after Chinese southpaw Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang
shook up the heavyweight division with a stunning knockout,
he’ll look to do it again. Zhang’s rematch with British
superstar Joe Joyce — Saturday, Sept. 23 at OVO Arena
Wembley in London — will stream live and exclusively in the
U.S. on ESPN+.
Zhang-Joyce II, the return of two-time light heavyweight
title challenger Anthony Yarde against Ricky Summers, and
additional undercard action begins at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
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.
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