Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang: British heavyweight suffers first career loss in shock defeat
British heavyweight Joe Joyce's world-title ambitions were derailed as he suffered a sixth-round technical knockout loss to China's Zhilei Zhang at London's Copper Box Arena.
He added: "I'm disappointed. I'd like to apologise to all my fans and supporters - I'll be back. My journey's not over, this is just a hurdle I've tripped over. I'll be back."This was not part of the script, with Joyce losing his WBO interim title. He has been guilty of starting slow in the past, but even he looked surprised by the tremendous opening round from 'Big Bang', who hurt Joyce twice with big lefts.
Joyce desperately needed a response and started firing back in the fourth, but with his eye starting to close, there were concerns from his team the fight could be halted. "Today is mine," he said. "Today belongs to me, belongs to everyone who showed up, belongs to every Chinese fan who showed up."I'm 39 years old, but I'm disciplined, I train hard and next step I go for the title."
Earlier in the night, American Mikaela Mayer moved a step closer to a potential future showdown with Ireland's undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor as she beat late replacement Lucy Wildheart on points.
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