In a rematch that’s already buzzing with anticipation, Zhilei Zhang (25-1-1, 20 KOs) is being advised to leave nothing to chance when he faces Joe Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs) this Saturday night in London. Zhang’s trainer, Shaun George, has made it clear that they’re gunning for a knockout, wary of the judging that could favor Joyce in his hometown. “Me, personally, I still don’t trust the judging and I still don’t trust the referee,” George said. “To me, our only option here is for Zhilei to win by knockout. So, every single round we’re gonna be looking for a knockout.”
The skepticism isn’t unfounded. In their first bout last April, British judge Phil Edwards had Joyce ahead by one point entering the sixth round, while American judges Mike Fitzgerald and Efrain Lebron both had Zhang up by a single point. The fight was eventually stopped due to severe swelling around Joyce’s right eye, a decision made by British referee Howard Foster based on a physician's recommendation.
For the rematch, a more international panel of judges has been assembled, including Chinese judge Mark Leong, South African judge Deon Dwarte, and English judge Marcus McDonnell. Veteran British referee Steve Gray will officiate the bout. Despite these changes, George remains adamant: “I don’t think we have any other choice but to knock Joe Joyce out, because I don’t think it’s gonna be fair,” he said, citing promoter Frank Warren's open bias towards Joyce.
The stakes are sky-high for both fighters, who have impressive knockout records. Zhang has knocked out 77% of his opponents since turning pro in 2014, while Joyce has only failed to knock out two opponents, one of them being Zhang.
Image Credit: DAZN