The future of boxing’s heavyweight division could be on the line when interim WBO heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang faces Joe Joyce in a rematch on September 23.
The fight is in the OVO Arena Wembley in London and airs on ESPN+ in the U.S. In the U.K., the bout airs on TNT Sports.
At 40, Zhang has forced himself into the top of the heavyweight title picture. When he beat Joyce in April, Zhang was able to damage the Brit’s eye enough to end the fight early.
“Big Bang” knew Joyce would activate his rematch clause. With a career that started in 2014, he believes he’s doing everything he can to prepare while Joyce is distracted, especially with the fight in his backyard.
“I look at the rematch as if it is a new fight. I look at Joe Joyce as if I never fought him before. He’s making remarks in front of the media. I’m driving to the gym,” Zhang said via South China Morning Post. “He’s living his moment. I’m on my way to train like hell.”
MORE: Sign up to watch Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2, exclusively on ESPN+
Joyce, 38, has beaten the likes of Daniel Dubois, Carlos Takam, and Joseph Parker. He was close to facing Oleksandr Usyk for heavyweight gold until the Zhang loss. Promoter Frank Warren believes everything is on the line in this fight. A loss could dramatically change the course of Joyce's career.
“He [Joyce] knows what he has got to do and his immediate future depends on him regaining his position as WBO interim world champion,” Warren told SCMP.
Here's all you need to know about the bout, from channel, time, and card.
How to watch Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2: TV channel, live stream
| Region | TV channel | Live streaming |
| USA | — | ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | TSN+ |
| UK and Ireland | TNT Sports | TNT Sports |
| Australia | — | Kayo |
In the U.K., the fight will air on TNT Sports. In the U.S., the fight will air on ESPN+.
MORE: Should Tyson Fury be stripped of the heavyweight title?
Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2 price: How much does the card cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
MORE: Sign up to watch Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2, exclusively on ESPN+
What time is Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2 today?
The main card of Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2 starts at 7 p.m. local time, which is 2 p.m. ET. Both fighters should make their way to the ring around 10:15 p.m. BST (5:15 p.m. ET), depending on how long the undercard fights last. Here's how that translates to different timezones globally:
| Region | Date | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, September 23 | 2 p.m. ET | 5:15 p.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, September 23 | 11 a.m. PT | 2:15 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Saturday, September 23 | 7 p.m. BST | 10:15 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Sunday, September 24 | 4 a.m. AEST | 7:15 a.m. AEST |
Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2 fight card
- Zhilei Zhang (c) vs. Joe Joyce 2 for the interim WBO heavyweight title
- Pierce O'Leary vs. Kane Gardner; Super Lightweights
- Anthony Yarde vs. Ricky Summers; Light Heavyweights
- Sam Noakes vs. Carlos Perez; Lightweights
- Zach Parker vs. Khalid Graidia; Super Middleweights
- Ezra Taylor vs. Joel McIntyre; Light Heavyweights
- Royston Barney-Smith vs. Engel Gomez ; Super Featherweights
- Moses Itauma vs. Amine Boucetta; Heavyweights
- Tommy Fletcher vs. Alberto Tapia; Cruiserweights
- Aloys Youmbi vs. Erik Nazaryan; Cruiserweights
