Joe Joyce, Overrated?

Zhang is way underrated. Basically because of the forrest's fight where he looked like ****. I see joyce beating more top 10 guys than zhang, though, because of zhang's gas tank. Zhang is total cryptonite for joyce's style though.

 

We knew Joyce couldn't outbox Zhang. He always had to tire out and stop him, and he was actually getting there. Suffice to say, such method always had its risks.

Make Zhang orthodox and the fight instantly looks different, because every jab Joyce throws doubles up as a leverage guard against the rear hand; that and he has easier time landing it and disrupting Zhang's breathing pattern which is a big deal.

That's not feasible though. Southpaws exist and they are dangerous, especially one such as Zhang. Some fighters might just have too much trouble getting past them and it does not at all reflects their capability to demolish orthodox fighters.

What still astounds me is Joyce's chin, engine, and pressure. There were moments when I was certain he is soon taking over the fight and even though he was rocked, the man took insane amount of brain bleed inducing shots and recovered instantly.

I had the first three rounds:
10-9
10-8*
10-9
*I'd understand both 9 and 8. I was willing to score it 10-8 due to an amount of unanswered shots.

Those were rounds in which Zhang was free to shoot at Joyce like you shoot at a fish in a barrel with Joe being nearly clueless bar perhaps the third but shots were mostly picked off there. The moment Joyce upped the pressure and was more willing to get inside Zhang began tiring. Fighting from the outside will always be less taxing and more comfortable for him as far as the breath pattern goes. Had Joyce cleverly moved in to unload inside and clinch/control game, the three rounds he wasted on having his eye closed would likely make a difference between a loss and a victory.

 

As a fighter he's gone down in my estimation based off his loss last night, but I still consider him one of the best HWs in the sport right now. Zhang just has a really dangerous combination of qualities that spelled doom for Joyce last night. He's like this generation's Corrie Sanders.

I'd rate Joyce in the bottom half of the top ten at the moment. He can bounce back with wins off the likes of Whyte and co. Or go to the States and smash up Ortiz and Ruiz. That'd put him back in the picture.

 

Whyte has been shot for years, since before Povetkin 1. Joyce and Zhang would bounce whytes head off the canvas. Early. A win against Whyte wouldn't elevate Joyce at all

 

Na, I'm a big Joyce fan and its just how it goes

Win some .lose some but Joe certainly did not help himself last night with the approach

Guy still has my support

 

Yep that's how I feel. Lets be honest he was going to lose at some point, you can't keep having tough fights and not pick up an L.

 

16th fight
Gone look who hes faced
Gone look who fury and wilder were fighting on there 16th fights
Joyce would still beat wilder imo

 

Show me anyone who would look good beating Zhang
Big guy fast accurate southpaw

 

Oh, so Dubois had eye trouble?
What an interesting take on that fight. Now why was the Zhang fight stopped again?

 

It doesn't make any sense tbh. Both now are the mantatories for their divisions so it is pointless them fighting other than the loser giving away their spot..

 

I've been a Joyce fan since the Jennings win where he showed me more than expected and some improvement in his boxing. But even I thought the hype got a little ridiculous after he beat Parker. He's never been the guy to dominate the division, always thought Fury and Usyk would beat him and he'd be an under dog against AJ and even maybe Wilder. So at best he was top 5, but with the loss to Zhang that might be too optimistic.

But I'll still support him, still find his, "Please hit me repeatedly flush on the chin" style fun to watch and still think he can have a good career. Christ if Chisora can make millions and fight big fight after big fight, no reason Joyce can't do better and carve out a respectable career, he'll just never be the top guy, but then I never thought he would be and that's OK.

 

If Joyce's eye doesn't swell up, I think he takes Zhang out down the stretch. Zhang was breathing heavy early on and Joyce won the 5th round.

We knew Joyce takes too many shots and although he remained on his feet, he was hurt early and those shots finally stopped him. However, he was on his feet and had his best round of the fight. Zhang threw the kitchen sink at him early and it proved to be a great tactic but Joyce is very much a 12 round fighter and he was growing into the fight.

There's no need to throw anyone under the bus here. What we witnessed was two world class heavyweights taking on each other when they didn't have to and having a war. I commend both fighters and would love to see a rematch.

If Joyce comes in heavier and avoids the straight left a bit better, he can definitely beat Zhang. He'll take more punishment but that's generally his gameplan. As said, I hope we see the rematch because there was a lot more entertainment to come in that fight from both fighters.

 

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Why would he duck a man he clearly beat once before?
"Amateurs don´t count"
5 rounds with no head gear is no longer amateur boxing. It would be a fantastic fight. But neither Zhang nor Joyce makes sense for Hrgovic right now. He is the IBF mandatory and should just wait for his title shot (should take a few stay busy fights).
Zhang will have to wait for a while to get his crack at the WBO. So whomever offers him the most money, that´s what makes sense for him. And it´s likely to be Joyce.

 

This seems to be getting forgotten already. Ok, Joyce was outclassed, but people are acting like he was KO'ed.

The second half was always going to be when Joyce came more into it because he has good stamina and Zhang doesn't. Fair play to Zhang for getting the stoppage before that could happen, but it was a doctor's stoppage, not a KO.

 

Ignore this guy he thinks having a broken wrist isn't a good reason to not take a fight against Hrgovic and that Hrgovic not even offering Joyce a fight later on proves Joyce was ducking him lol. This guy is the biggest Hrgovic nut hugger on the forum.