WBO interim-heavyweight champion, Zhilei Zhang, recently addressed the Chinese media in New York City, shedding light on his much-anticipated rematch with Joe Joyce, a fellow Olympic silver medalist. The showdown between Zhang and Joyce is scheduled on September 23rd at London’s Wembley Arena. The bout, expected to draw significant viewership, will be broadcast live by ESPN+ in the US, Douyin in China, and TNT Sports in the UK.
Focused and in high spirits, Zhang updated the media about his rigorous training regimen, confidently comparing his sparring partners’ capabilities to Joyce’s skills. He mentioned training alongside Alonzo Neal, a 2023 National Golden Gloves finalist, Dmytro Bezus, a formidable professional, and the seasoned heavyweight, Mariusz Wach. Recounting his recent victory, Zhang reminisced about seizing the WBO interim-title in April, after a phenomenal performance against Joyce that saw the latter withdrawn from the fight due to a severely swollen eye. While Zhang had his sights set on challenging Tyson Fury, the WBC champion, Joyce's decision to exercise his right to a rematch has momentarily put those plans on hold. Undeterred, Zhang remarked, “I already created history on April 15th in London. I don’t mind doing it again on September 23rd.”
As the conversation steered towards his training, Shaun George, Zhang’s trainer, subtly referenced the boxer’s age, reassuring everyone about their preparation strategy. George confidently proclaimed that Zhang would exhibit an aggressive strategy against Joyce, ready to adjust to any tactics thrown his way.
The conversation inevitably touched upon the recent title fight where Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his heavyweight belts against Daniel Dubois, amid some controversy. Zhang took a more sympathetic stance towards Usyk, suggesting that Dubois might need to work more on his resilience and willpower, given how the fight played out.
Image Credit: Sky Sports