Zhilei Zhang is intent on giving Joe Joyce the second stoppage loss of his career just five months on from the first.
The two heavyweights run it back this weekend in London following Zhang’s stoppage victory which saw Joyce’s eye swell dangerously to the point that the fight was waved off.
This training camp has been focused on delivering the exact same result, perhaps even more conclusively, and the Chinese fighter’s trainer and former fighter, Shaun George, revealed why.
“It’s a knockout. That’s the only choice we have. I don’t trust the politics of the sport, I don’t trust the referees and the judges here. There’s only one mission. This fight is not going the distance.”
‘Big Bang’ Zhang then echoed this sentiment. His decision loss to Filip Hrgovic – one which many felt he did enough to win – likely still fresh on his mind. Despite the press conference being all respect, he said he would end the Brit’s career.
“For the first fight, you gave me the opportunity, but your team made a mistake in choosing me. And your team is going for the rematch, which is a bigger mistake. I’m here to end your career.”
“When you look at the scorecards, one of the judges had him up after the fight. I’m not going to give the judges any opportunities. I did it in the first fight, I’ll do the same.”
“It’s nice and simple. I know his weakness is his eye.”
Zhang will put his WBO Interim title and mandatory position for Oleksandr Usyk on the line against Joyce this Saturday, live on TNT Sports in the UK.