Joe Joyce has spoken out after the announcement of his fight with Zhilei Zhang, and told fans they can expect fireworks when the two heavy hitters meet on April 15th.
The fight has been well received by fans on social media, as ‘The Juggernaut’ bides his time in the hope of landing a world title shot later in the year.
Joyce announced himself as a bonafide contender in the heavyweight division last September, when he stopped former world champion Joseph Parker in the 11th round of their incredible war at the Manchester Arena.
Now holder of the WBO Interim belt, Joyce will be in line for a shot at who ever holds the full belt in the not too distant future – currently Oleksandr Usyk.
Speaking to Dev Sahni on Queensberry’s official YouTube channel, Joyce said southpaws like Zhang have brought out his angry side in the past, and that he’s envisaging an entertaining dust up at the Copperbox Arena.
“It’s going to be carnage at the centre of the ring! I’ve lost my temper a few times in sparring and once was against a come forward southpaw who was trying to knock me out. That was an exciting spar.”
“I think with me and Zhang, there will be real heavy punches exchanged. He’s a southpaw so he’s tricky.”
“I think it’s going to be a good fight.”
Like the rest of the blue ribbon division, the Putney Puncher must bide his time as he waits for news regarding a potential undisputed clash between his countryman Tyson Fury and Usyk.
This scrap in the interim is just dangerous enough to keep him on his toes.