Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce still believes that he can topple China’s Zhilei Zhang in a rematch.
Last Saturday night, at the Copper Box in London, Zhang stopped Joyce in six rounds.
The first defeat of Joyce’s career saw the British boxer get tagged with hard left hands that eventually closed up his right eye – which eventually led to a ringside doctor advising the referee to stop the fight.
Joyce has the option of exercising an immediate rematch. It’s not clear if he intends to go in that direction.
“Before you all write me off I’m OK just got a bruised eye. I think I’ll be OK, as fights go I’m in good health. Not a great performance however, but I’ll go back to the drawing board and have to improve,” Joyce told his followers on social media.
“Zhang was the better fighter on the night, but I still think I can beat him, even though he’s a strong contender.”
Zhang is very much ready for a rematch and has no issue with giving Joyce the opportunity to avenge his first professional setback.
“Let’s see what Joe Joyce wants to do. If he wants a rematch, I’m here. I still respect him. Actually, I respect him more after the fight,” Zhang told IFL TV.
“I feel like he’s a great fighter, very tough. He gave me a lotta pressure, but I made it through.”
Joyce’s promoter, George Warren of Queensberry, revealed that his boxer might take an interim-fight before circling back to Zhang near the end of the year. Zhang will also be promoted by Queensberry for his next few fights.