Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zang - The Sundial vs. The Ancient

On Saturday April 15, from East London, England (ESPN + and BT Sport1 HD) it’s Zhilei “Bing Bang” Zhang, vs. Joe, ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce (really big) heavyweights. (You’ll notice my own nicknames for these two are unofficial.)

Background: Joe Joyce is a very pleasant, civil guy that’s being pushed by folks that should know better as some under-appreciated gem.  He’s no gem. He’s a working man who at 37, has chosen a dangerous field to make some crusts. Same goes for Zhang who’s 39, going on 40. He’s not Xin Zhui, the ‘beautiful’ 2000-year-old Chinese mummy – but he’s no spring chicken, either. To be fair, Joyce obtained a good degree from a very good University which takes time away from boxing.

Stupid rumors abound about these dudes. The big one is that they haven’t been fighting long. Wrong. They’ve been fighting a very long time. Both transitioned to the Pro game extremely late. 37-year-old Joyce, incredibly, has just 15 fights. The bottom line – these dudes are not solid gold nuggets that suddenly appeared. They’re not ‘terrors’ that better fighters avoid. They’re pretty average - if entertaining boxers. That’s it.

Fighters Grades: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

Joe Joyce: D B B A C- B C- Total: C+ (2.5)

Zhilei Zhang: B B C+ A C- C B Total: B- (2.7)

Reality Check: I call the friendly, intelligent Joyce, The Sundial, because his punches are as slow as I’ve seen in a long time. Sure, he kayoed the highly overrated Joseph Parker. Joyce throws almost exclusively, plodding, roundhouse 1-2’s. As strong as his shoulders are, they’re arm punches. It’s way too late to correct that fatal flaw. Amazingly, his footwork is not all that slow. He moves well and has decent head movement. But where his arms connect to his body – that’s where the blockage occurs. This is one slow heavyweight.

Zhilei Zhang, who now resides in one of the “safest areas” in the USA,” Bloomfield, New Jersey, is a different kettle of fish. This giant has good hand speed (if slower feet than Joyce which could be make or break). He’s no Foreman –hysterical claims of DAZN’s announcers (UGH) to the contrary. Word up–if Zhang hit like Foreman, he’d already be world champion, wouldn’t he? Hello, DAZN?

In Zhang’s fight with Hrgovic, one which I thought he clearly won (take those “punch-stats” and throw them on the nearest river, they’re fake) he hit Hrgovic with a huge left hand – and not much happened. Maybe Hrgovic has a great chin. What was impressive is the variety of speedy punches Zhang, born just outside Peking in Zhoukou, Henan, China, threw. I don’t know if he’s a converted right-hander; whatever, he has power in both hands. He also has stamina problems which he seemed to surmount vs. Hrgovic where he went the distance.

Here are Joyce and Zhang in action, illustrating my thoughts, above, on both. All rights reserved to DAZN and BT Sports Box Office. (Control Key + ‘click’) to view

photos.app.goo.gl/WvxccaMnEoMNys8TA (Joyce)

photos.app.goo.gl/RYdXZJiPw9L1LivQ8 (Zhang)

Boxing is theater of the absurd. Especially heavyweights. We’re told the reason Zhang looked good in his fight vs. Hrgovic was because in his previous showcase, he’d had just one glass of water – his only liquid intake in a week. Also, prior to that fight – Zhang experienced kidney failure! I happened to ask a medical doctor who says both are laughable. No one glass of water, no kidney failure, which is often a fatal condition. Why? Why are such tall tales told and how do they advance Zhang’s career? 

On the Sundial’s side - no such myths about Joyce – except that a pretty ancient heavyweight with just 15 fights, is the most avoided man in boxing. 

Fight and prediction: Fights like Zhang vs. Joyce are fights that have the potential to lure the casual or non-boxing fan in. There’s a decent woman’s fight attached to this non-PPV, and while the public is savvier about boxing than years ago, the average Mr. or Ms. still thinks of Gatti-Ward – and Joyce-Zhang, as what boxing is all about - a lot of violence. 

And they’re not wrong. Boxing has degrees of violence and Joyce-Zhang is not a Pernell Whitaker or Mayweather bout. Much less Nicolino Loccche. There will be some science when China via New Jersey clashes with Putney, London, England. Not a lot. This isn’t street fighting – but it’s not artful boxing either. Any science will come from the vastly more talented – but even older, Zhang.

Both men are strivers and pretty cool guys. Who doesn’t love a slugfest? Oddly, these 6’6” giants probably don’t have enough power to erase the other. Zhang’s team actually said instead of one glass per week, he’s up to five gallons of water a day. You can’t make this stuff up. But even a hydrated Zhang is probably going to evidence his usual fatigue jag after 8-9 rounds. It’s a tough call. Joyce’s hands are sloth-like, but his feet are okay and that will allow him to get inside and hammer his ancient colleague. Zhang will connect on Joyce with his faster hands.

No bent British court – sorry! No bent panel of judges in London are going to help Zhang win a decision. Wait, Eddie Hearn promotes Zhang…presumably, that’s really helpful for Zhang’s chances.

What the hell, if it goes to the cards, I’ll pick Joyce, by close UD. Don’t ask me why – I greatly prefer Zhang.

Bombs away, gentleman. Let’s see the kitchen sink. 

Joe Joyce (close) UD 12, Zhilei Zhang.