---
title: "Zhilei Zhang-Joe Joyce Rematch Official For September 23"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/zhang-joyce-rematch-official/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kerr Ferguson"
section: "News"
published: "2023-06-29T10:03:15Z"
modified: "2023-06-29T10:03:15Z"
---

# Zhilei Zhang-Joe Joyce Rematch Official For September 23

Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce will run it back on September 23 at London’s OVO Arena, Wembley.

Zhang (25-1-1, 20 KOs) is set defend his WBO Interim title against previous holder, Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs) in a repeat of their April 15 contest earlier this year at the Copper Box Arena.

Joyce entered the ring that night high off a career-best performance over Joseph Parker, and not many in the boxing space picked him to lose.

Zhang – who was coming off a controversial decision loss to Filip Hrgovic – [upset those odds in style](https://www.bt.com/sport/watch/video/clips/2023/april/highlights-joe-joyce-vs-zhilei-zhang), baffling the hometown man from his southpaw stance and throwing a left hand that seemingly couldn’t miss.

The result was an increasingly swollen eye for Joyce – one that the ringside physician and referee decided had rendered him unable to continue in the sixth.

‘Big Bang’ left London as the interim champ well aware that the now-official rematch was likely to be activated despite pundits advising Joyce to take another fight instead and the fighter seemingly considering that option.

[He officially activated his contractual second fight in early May,](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/joe-joyce-activates-zhang-rematch-clause/) and said that he would perform better when the time comes. Zhang is double-confident, though, [believing his opponent has made a mistake in coming back for more.](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/zhang-on-joyce-rematch/)

> ? Will Joyce gain his revenge and continue his path to glory or will Zhang go one step closer to ultimate Heavyweight glory?[#ZhangJoyce](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZhangJoyce?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) | 23 September | Ticket Alerts: [https://t.co/4p1iKWlGLi](https://t.co/4p1iKWlGLi) [pic.twitter.com/COKs9PXJJg](https://t.co/COKs9PXJJg)
>
> — Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) [June 29, 2023](https://twitter.com/Queensberry/status/1674356934257033218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Even despite being a repeat of previous action, it’s welcome movement in the heavyweight division that has been allergic to announcing fights.

In terms of the wider schedule, [the rematch may clash with Conor Benn’s ring return](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/two-uk-venues-for-benn-eubank/) dependant on an upcoming UKAD verdict. Chris Eubank Jr is being targeted but as yet unconfirmed.

The winner will be free from contractual rematches and a bonafide mandatory for the WBO World title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk.