Joe Joyce has seen his world title hopes dashed after a shock loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang in a bout for the vacant interim WBO heavyweight title at the Copper Box Arena in London.
Referee Howard Foster called the contest off after Joyce copped a black right eye that was so badly swollen, it was completely shut.
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Joyce was widely tipped to defend his WBO interim title and defeat Zhang en route to a matchup against Dillian Whyte, but the 37-year-old went down in six rounds.
The 2016 Olympic silver medallist said he was “disappointed with (his) performance.
“It was a good fight, but I could have done better,” Joyce said.
“I have not fought against a southpaw for so long. Credit to him.
“He is a good fight and I gave it my all. But I expected to win.
“I would like to apologise to all my fans and my supporters.
“I will be back and my journey is not over.”
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Joyce said Zhang being a southpaw was “awkward” to fight against.
“He’s an awkward style because he’s a southpaw and a powerful southpaw at that,” he said.
“I just couldn’t get away.”
Joyce struggled early in the fight, looking unsteady as early as the first round, and was never truly on top as “Big Bang Zhang” battered him with his strong right hook.
Zhang was emphatic in victory, saying “today is mine.”
“Today belongs to me, belongs to everyone who showed up, belongs to every Chinese who showed up,” he said.
“I’m 39 years old, but I’m disciplined, I train hard and next step I go for the title.”