Comments Thread For: Joe Joyce Reveals He May Take Interim-Fight Before Zhilei Zhang Rematch

[Roberto Vasquez]

It's too late for Joyce to change. He doesn't punch hard enough in single shots to adopt a defensive style. He tried that with Adam Booth - more movement with single punches. Was a really bad idea!

If I was him I would avoid Zhang and try someone else. Zhang has Joyce's number. He can punch hard enough to hurt him. Being a big guy helps too.

[Monty Fisto]

Yeah joyce should rematch instantly he doesn't have time and minus the eye damage could have started getting zhang blowing into the 7th round.

His best chance is to come in heavy keep a distance for 3 rounds and then get in as close as possible with a jab and work combos making sure when he ends the combos putting everything into the body shots.

Noticed Joyce was putting a lot into the right hand and landing it but the body work is the key against zhang not big head punches to start with at least

This is in line with my thoughts on the matter -- Joyce's pride forced him into sticking with his usual walk forward, pressure approach and he instantly came unstuck because of it. If he maintains a more cagey distance for the first few rounds and concentrates on taking Zhang deep, he could probably take him. Zhang rocked him early, but Joe still could take the power and stay on his feet, but that eye was screwed. Zhang's straight left is fast, but his punch output nosedived in the fourth and fifth. Joe took a pasting in those first two rounds that deservedly lost him the fight, but it could be a different story with a less gung-ho approach in a rematch.

[Kris Silver]

You are correct to a certain extent, I think specifically UK boxing coaches excel in certain area's of boxing 'Mainly grassroots boxing, amateur boxing and getting fighters to a World level' And I think UK coaches are better right now than American coaches in this area.

American or even foreign coaches seem to excel in taking fighters beyond the levels they have been innately operating at. Sometimes this leap works for UK fighters, other times it backfires.

Sometimes I think it is best UK fighters just stick to what they are good at 'If UK fighters make this move deep into their careers, many times it has back fired' This is probably more sports specific, as I personally think certain fighters have a better ability for training.

A fighter like Joshua for example maybe is a bit different, because one of his best assets is his enhanced learning abilities 'Proven by the very fact that he started boxing late, but was still able to become a Olympic Champion'.

Joshua may not switch up his game drastically at this stage, but people must admit? He only worked with Garcia for a matter of weeks, and produced a better performance vs Usyk 'A fight many predicted he would be knocked out in'.

And under 1 fight with Derrick James, I have already seen Joshua using his jab with more authority 'And for the first time ever, actually wrestling on the inside and disrupting his opponents work' This is a vital skill, boarder-line rough house tactics that Heavyweights must have in their game etc.

Note: The UK trainers that I personally rate highly are Adam Booth, Don Charles, Dominic Ingle and Peter Fury 'Charles and Fury would of been good coaches for Joshua'.

Peter Fury has always spoken highly of Joshua, I have never seen him downplay Joshua's ability.

Good post and generally with agree with everything there.

Adam Booth I rate a bit but he's so arrogant, I'm not always sure in interviews he's as tactically smart as he believes he is.

Look at some of our best and respected champions over recent years. Haye, Froch, Joshua to name a few. I've got a real bug bear with Rob McCracken. His corner advice at times is terrible, doesn't have a plan B or astute tactical advice, even if his fighter is losing. It often fell to Carl or Joshua to change something to improve their performance.

In this day and age with all these decades passed, he should really have a Freddie Roach, a Manny Steward, Sugar Hill, Ronnie Shields, Eddie Futch, Angelo Dundee, “Nacho” Beristain.

I'll make an exception and potential to be a great UK coach. Shane Mcguigan. That's guys got smarts and serious potential.

5 more like him available in the UK, to eek out elite level camps, game plans and in fight tactics, will make a huge difference to how our top guys are performing.

[juggernaut666]

You are correct to a certain extent, I think specifically UK boxing coaches excel in certain area's of boxing 'Mainly grassroots boxing, amateur boxing and getting fighters to a World level' And I think UK coaches are better right now than American coaches in this area.

American or even foreign coaches seem to excel in taking fighters beyond the levels they have been innately operating at. Sometimes this leap works for UK fighters, other times it backfires.

Sometimes I think it is best UK fighters just stick to what they are good at 'If UK fighters make this move deep into their careers, many times it has back fired' This is probably more sports specific, as I personally think certain fighters have a better ability for training.

A fighter like Joshua for example maybe is a bit different, because one of his best assets is his enhanced learning abilities 'Proven by the very fact that he started boxing late, but was still able to become a Olympic Champion'.

Joshua may not switch up his game drastically at this stage, but people must admit? He only worked with Garcia for a matter of weeks, and produced a better performance vs Usyk 'A fight many predicted he would be knocked out in'.

And under 1 fight with Derrick James, I have already seen Joshua using his jab with more authority 'And for the first time ever, actually wrestling on the inside and disrupting his opponents work' This is a vital skill, boarder-line rough house tactics that Heavyweights must have in their game etc.

Note: The UK trainers that I personally rate highly are Adam Booth, Don Charles, Dominic Ingle and Peter Fury 'Charles and Fury would of been good coaches for Joshua'.

Peter Fury has always spoken highly of Joshua, I have never seen him downplay Joshua's ability.

Tony Simms and Mark Tibbs are better then all these guys .

[champion4ever]

Wallin had Fury's number? Then why did Fury rag doll Wallin for half the fight?

Fury's eye wasn't worse. It was a bad cut but it wasn't swollen like Joyce's. Swelling like that could mean a skull fracture.

I don't understand why you keep embarrassing yourself.

What are you talking about? Fury had two cuts over that same eye. One over his right brow and the other on his right eye lid. He could have easily bled out from that fight.

[Wacked_Out]

I am quiet dissapointed in Ismael Salas or does Joe Joyce just forget everything once he gets into the ring?
Salas is a very decorated trainer and has trained fighters like Felix Savon, Guillermo Rigondeaux and also Yordenis Ugas, when he defeated Pacquaio.
This iron-chin reputation of Joyce, he is taking far too much punches to the head.
Zhang was hitting him with 2 consecutive straights to head. Joyce jabs and just stands there, right in front of his opponent
To avoid a punch a fighter should, move his feet, move his head or catch them on his glove.
If you can´t do any of these things, you have no business being in a boxing ring.

It was shocking. Even though Ive seen him before and basically knew it was thus.

[Drigo]

Joyce was simply exposed. He can handily walk through smaller fighter but in this fight he was simply outclassed. The same outcome if he fights Fury and AJ. The rematch with Zhang would be the same outcome. Joyce may be is strong and durable but he is simply too slow to be a world champion...

[juggernaut666]

Joyce was simply exposed. He can handily walk through smaller fighter but in this fight he was simply outclassed. The same outcome if he fights Fury and AJ. The rematch with Zhang would be the same outcome. Joyce may be is strong and durable but he is simply too slow to be a world champion...

If Joyce has the same guys giving him advice sure it’s the same outcome .

Id take Joyce in the rematch if he gets a competent trainer who can speak English fluently as well , under Able Sanchez he wins imop . Knowing how boxing works though he’ll stick with the same trainer or go a U.K route ? This is just proof when a tough fight happens you actually need sound advice when the fighter can’t make your night as a cornerman easy . I don’t even think Salas was in his corner when he defeated DDD where he had to adjust ,he may have lost that one to ?

If he hires Salas again it’ll just tell me he doesn’t care if he wins at this point but to say he was exposed isn’t true , Joyce put all the time and effort into physical shape but someone forgot to actually prepare him for the guy he was fighting . It was painfully obvious after round 2 these guys hadn’t a clue and was one of the worst corners I’ve seen In awhile. Lol,

[greeneye99]

What are you talking about? Fury had two cuts over that same eye. One over his right brow and the other on his right eye lid. He could have easily bled out from that fight.

Are you Doctor?
Did you examine the eyes of Fury & Joyce?
But yet you know the difference in their injuries by watching a fight at home on your Television
Smh

[NoConcoms]

Man I still am shocked this fight was stopped lol.4 more rounds who knows what would’ve happened. Typical British nonsense early stoppage tho

While I would have enjoyed seeing Joyce beaten into retirement in front of his countrymen, he is a human being here. He looked like he had a fractured orbital bone. The stoppage was correct. A ref has to look out for the fighter's safety.