China’s Zhang knocks out Joyce to move closer to world heavyweight title shot

China’s Zhang Zhilei took another step towards a shot at a world heavyweight boxing title by knocking out Joe Joyce early in their rematch in London – before calling out Tyson Fury.

Zhang dominated at Wembley Arena, dictating the fight against a ponderous and hesitant Joyce before ending it with a sledgehammer right hand in the third round.

The 40-year-old continued where he left off in April’s first bout between the two, also in London at the Copper Box Arena, when he had produced a stunning sixth-round technical knockout to take the WBO interim heavyweight belt from Joyce.

He held on to it on Saturday, with Joyce again having no answer to his power and speed. And afterwards, Zhang had a message for WBC champion Fury.

“I feel very happy – like I said beforehand, it’s going to end sooner,” Zhang said in the ring via an interpreter. “I wanted everyone to see this Chinese power again.

“We came here to entertain the crowd. I hope everyone enjoyed my performance. Thanks also to my fans on Chinese social media.”

“I have a question for the crowd,” Zhang said. “Do you want to see me shut Tyson Fury up?”

The response, albeit not in Fury’s native north of England, suggested some interest in Zhang attempting to do just that after a consummate display.

Joyce had vowed to learn from the first encounter, when he had been a sitting target for southpaw Zhang and failed to make use of his expected advantage in mobility.

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This time, Joyce, 38, weighed in 25lbs (11kg) heavier at a career-high 281lbs, but it left him leaden-footed. By contrast, Zhang – despite being 6lbs heavier still and having put on 9lbs since April – backed up his pre-fight assertion that he was his natural weight.

He was quick to show he had the hand speed and confidence to hurt Joyce, landing big left hooks almost at will while his opponent dabbed tentatively from distance.

It was a matter of when Zhang would finish the job, which he did by rocking Joyce with another left before flooring him with a thunderous right.