Promoter Frank Warren has suggested that Joe Joyce may contemplate retirement after his third-round knockout loss to WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang. Joyce, however, is determined to continue fighting. The loss puts him in a challenging position, as his ranking is likely to drop, limiting his options for high-profile fights.
Potential opponents for Joyce now include domestic-level fighters like Carlos Takam, Martin Bakole, and Luis Ortiz. Warren indicates that if Joyce, aged 38, decides to continue, he could focus on these domestic fights, although the financial incentives may not be as lucrative as his previous bouts with Zhang and Joseph Parker.
Boxing analyst Ade Oladipo believes Joyce still has the ability to take a punch and could rebuild his career. He argues that Joyce's fighting style, akin to George Foreman's, is unlikely to change and that retirement talks are premature.
As for Zhilei Zhang, a fight with Tyson Fury seems improbable as Fury is seen as avoiding risky matchups. Zhang’s best chance for a high-profile fight could come from his popularity in China, if financial backing for a bout against a top heavyweight like Anthony Joshua materializes.
Image Credit: Sky Sports