Joseph Obey Joyce vs. Zhāng Zhìlěi & Denzel Bentley vs. Kieran Smith RBR.

if father time does not intervene.

 

With that jab hitting nonstop, even if it makes him easier to clock, it's not easy for an orthodox fighter to do it, because he has no space (unless using weird trajectories in his punches, which takes away a lot of power from them). But with a southpaw it is different, southpaw's heaven is full of orthodox fighters jabbing, moving to their right and with a stationary head.

Tbh, I never thought that a fighter like joyce could have those problems vs southpaws, he (and his trainer) should know better. How the **** did they prepare the fight? well, I dont know, I expect more from joyce.

 

It's a tricky one to gauge. Was Joyce taking so many of Zhang's lefts because of his damaged eye, or was his damaged eye a result of taking so many lefts? Was it the former then yeah I can definitely see Joyce outworking Zhang down the stretch (though his lack of power, especially on that WAF lead hook to the body, was pretty shocking). If it's the latter then the fight becomes a lot harder to tilt in Joyce's favour.

 

Anyone know how the judges had it? Anything but a shutout is home cooking.

 

One judge had Joyce ahead!

 

A few things about this makes me laugh. First off how the same people who acted like Joe Joyce was this unstopped Juggernaut and couldn't be hurt or loss are now acting like they knew he would lose or they are jumping on the Zhang bandwagon. Second it is hilarious people keep talking about how Joyce has this incredible chin. Um this guy has 16 bouts and is 37 years old. The only people he fought in his career who were/are considered punchers are Zhang and Daniel Dubois. Who did Dubois ever knock out who was worth mentioning and before this fight who did Zhang ever knock out? So because Joyce was able to handle Joseph Parker's power it means he has a great chin? Parker couldn't even hurt Junior Fa while old Lucas Browne knocked out Fa in 1 round.

Joyce was knocked out 3 times in the first round as a 27 year old amatuer with headgear and big padded gloves. I know some people will say. It was a amateur bout. Dude he was 27, he was a grown man. It wasn't like a 18 year old David Tua getting dropped as a amatuer. Now grown man's chin is going to get better with age. It has never happened with anybody else and it didn't happened with Joyce. You want to go further? Usyk was able to push Joyce around the ring when he landed punches on Joyce and Usyk wasn't a huge puncher even for cruiser weight standards. Joyce was never anything special. He was just a slow lumbering oaf and Zhang beating him proves nothing. The current heavyweight division is just horrible.

 

I dont know why it doesnt surprise me.

For example, british fighter fighting for a title in UK with british referee. Ok. It happens so often that we dont even think that it is unfair anymore.

 

The way Joyce fights he is always vulnerable to a quick straight left from a southpaw. You saw Zhang throw that same punch at Hrgovic with success. It was that very same punch that was Joyces downfall. Joe is a pressure fighting plodder with good power and a great chin. He will always be in a fight because of those characteristics. His career is far from over, pending no significant damage to the eye. Zhang should receive a title shot if not this year then early next.

 

Sad, no sport that relies upon judging is on the up and up. Not Boxing, mma, gymnastics, figure skating, or anything else. All corrupt to the core and always have been.

 

The damaged eye was the result of taking those straight lefts.

 

Joyce is the Alfredo Angulo of heavyweights.

 

i didnt see much from the corner, but what i saw was bush league. didnt realize solid trainers were in such short supply. i can understand if its a father son team, but youre training for a shot at million dollar fights, find someone who knows how to bring out the best of all you got.

 

I just realized... The Rummy Curse continues

 

I absolutely agree. This loss takes nothing away from Joyce. He got one loss and it took one of the hardest punchers in the division to even buzz him. I already liked him a lot but my opinion of him has gone up even more after seeing him tonight. This whole "He sucks because he lost" thing really needs to die a hard death, because all of the best fighters have had losses. A loss can be a blessing even, because it can be a learning experience if the fighter makes the right takeaways from it instead of whining about it. Look at O'Shaquie Foster down in Super Featherweight, he has two losses but he didn't let it stop him from whooping Rey Vargas.

I hope both men walked away from this fight proud of how they did. The sport needs more of them.