At one point, Joe Joyce was close to competing for heavyweight gold. Zhilei Zhang halted his momentum following six rounds of action in April. Now, the Brit looks to regain momentum when he faces Zhang in an immediate rematch on September 23.
The fight is in Wembley Arena in London and airs on ESPN+ in the U.S. In the U.K., the bout airs on TNT Sports. The interim WBO heavyweight title is on the line.
When they last fought, Zhang landed 82 of 180 shots (45.6%), while Joyce landed 85 of 464 (18.3%). The blows from Zhang affected Joyce's vision and, on the ringside doctor's advice, the referee called the fight in favor of Zhang. Going back to basics, Joyce believes he has what it takes to avenge the lone loss of his career.
“I’m feeling good, pumped, ready, switched on,” Joyce told TNT Sports via Eurosport. “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.
MORE: Sign up to watch Zhilei Zhang vs. Joe Joyce 2, exclusively on ESPN+
"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 was the -900 favorite in April, while Zhang was the +550 underdog (per Bet MGM). Per Bet MGM, Zhang is the -110 favorite this time, while Joyce is the +100 underdog. Still, some doubt the 40-year-old Zhang. "Big Bang,” representing China, is ready to prove the first fight was not a fluke.
”Last time I made history, the best inheritance of history is to create new history," Zhang told CGTN Europe. “People always think Chinese boxing can't produce heavyweight boxers and Chinese boxing can't compete with European and American boxing. I don't agree. I believe Chinese boxing will definitely occupy the most central position on the international stage.”
Here's all you need to know about the event, from time, channel, and card.
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:
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| 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 |
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+.
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+
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
