---
title: "Zhilei Zhang Says Joyce Rematch Now Only 60% Likely: “They Made A Mistake”"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/zhang-on-joyce-rematch/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kerr Ferguson"
section: "News"
published: "2023-06-16T06:45:21Z"
modified: "2023-06-16T06:53:25Z"
---

# Zhilei Zhang Says Joyce Rematch Now Only 60% Likely: “They Made A Mistake”

Zhilei Zhang’s plans have been decided for him via a contractual rematch clause with Joe Joyce, but the fight hasn’t been locked in just yet.

The 40-year-old Chinese heavyweight upset the odds with his beating of Joyce in April – [an exercise in the dangers of southpaws in which his left hand seemingly couldn’t miss.](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/joe-joyce-zhilei-zhang-result-and-report/)

As a result, Joyce’s eye swelled up dangerously, and the contest was waved off at the halfway stage.

[Weeks later, he confirmed that he would be attempting revenge in a second fight](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/boxing/joyce-vs-zhang-rematch-confirmed-b1079668.html), halting any plans Zhang had to move on to pursuing a world title shot.

Zhang told [Pro Box TV](https://proboxtv.com/news/zhang-frustrating-september-rematch-with-joyce-almost-done/en) that the details for the fight were still being figured out.

> “It looks like the rematch is the direction we’re heading in, but we’re still trying to figure out all the details. At one point I believe the Tyson Fury fight was on the radar for both teams, but it’s the rematch that got in the way, so that’s the direction we’re heading in.
>
> “It’s up there. I would say a little more than 60 per cent \[likely\]. We’re looking at – what Frank Warren said was September – and that’s what we’re looking at right now. But it’s not my job. I just train – do my training every day.”

It seems Zhang has indeed missed out a shot at Tyson Fury’s WBC belt with Joyce activating the rematch clause – something he believes was the wrong choice.

> “I would have chosen to fight one or two interim fights if I was him. I don’t know why his team is in such a rush to make it happen. I feel like his team made a mistake for the first fight, and now they’re probably going to make the second mistake, and if I beat Joe Joyce again his career’s going to end.
>
> Their team didn’t do comprehensive homework on what I do; what I am. They need to study me more. That’s the mistake. They underestimated me.”

News is expected soon as to the plans, as well as how Tyson Fury’s fight – also pencilled for September – fits into the equation.