China’s Zhang Zhilei calls out Tyson Fury after sensational KO of Joe Joyce moves him closer to world heavyweight boxing title shot
- ‘Big Bang’ lives up to his nickname as he lands right-hand piledriver in third round to poleaxe the Englishman at London’s Wembley Arena
- ‘I have a question for the crowd,’ Zhang says afterwards. ‘Do you want to see me shut Tyson Fury up?’
China’s Zhang Zhilei took another step towards a shot at a world heavyweight boxing title by knocking out Joe Joyce early in their rematch in London – before calling out Tyson Fury.
Zhang dominated at Wembley Arena, dictating the fight against a ponderous and hesitant Joyce before ending it with a sledgehammer right hand in the third round.
The 40-year-old continued where he left off in April’s first bout between the two, also in London at the Copper Box Arena, when he had produced a stunning sixth-round technical knockout to take the WBO interim heavyweight belt from Joyce.
He held on to it on Saturday, with Joyce again having no answer to his power and speed. And afterwards, Zhang had a message for WBC champion Fury.
“I feel very happy – like I said beforehand, it’s going to end sooner,” Zhang said in the ring via an interpreter. “I wanted everyone to see this Chinese power again.
“We came here to entertain the crowd. I hope everyone enjoyed my performance. Thanks also to my fans on Chinese social media.”
