Exclusive: 'I know what to do this time' - Joe Joyce 'more dedicated and focused' for Zhilei Zhang rematch
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Updated 22/09/2023 at 21:15 GMT
Joe Joyce saw his unbeaten professional record come to an end earlier this year as he was beaten by Zhilei Zhang. Joyce and Zhang meet in a rematch on September 23, live on TNT Sports, and Joyce has revealed that he is coming in heavier and has been more "dedicated and focused" in his preparation. He has also spoken about learning from the "mistakes" he made in the first fight.
Joe Joyce.
Image credit: Other Agency
Joe Joyce insists he “knows what to do this time around” in his rematch against Zhilei Zhang and is more focused after losing his status as an "indestructible juggernaut".
Joyce saw his unbeaten record ended in punishing fashion by Zhang in April.
The fight was stopped in the sixth round after Joyce took heavy damage to his eye.
Joyce will look for revenge when he meets Zhang at the OVO Arena, Wembley on Saturday, September 23, live on TNT Sports.
Looking ahead to the fight, he told TNT Sports: “I’m feeling good, pumped, ready, switched on.
“I’m a bit heavier than before, and more experienced, I know what to do this time around.
“It’s a long time since the other fight but looking back there were mistakes that were made in the fight and in the camp and they were all exposed and nitpicked.
"I am coming in a lot more dedicated and focused this time, I’ve had a bit more practice with the southpaw style in terms of sparring and tactics going into this fight.”
Joyce had looked on course for a potential clash with Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk before his loss to Zhang.
He will look to get back on track in the rematch and extend his professional record to 16-1.
He says he is coming in heavier than he was in the first fight, and is more focused on the job at hand.
“I felt like I was a bit light,” he said about the first meeting with Zhang.
“There was something in my diet that wasn’t really agreeing with me and I think it was tough to keep the weight on.
“I felt Zhang was a lot heavier and he’s kind of hard to push back, but now that I’m heavier I think I’ll be able to do a bit more and not get pushed back as much.
“I think I was a bit surprised by his accuracy and speed. It was very good and maybe I took my eye off the ball as well and was thinking about steps ahead. Also, the media were building me up as this indestructible juggernaut.
“Zhilei stopped me in my tracks. You live and learn and from it I’ve been more dedicated and more focused to push on and get the title back.”
Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce II set for OVO Arena, Wembley on September 23 LIVE on TNT Sports
Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce II will be available on September 23 to watch live on TNT Sports. For the latest TNT Sports schedule, click here.
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