Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Obey Joyce II & Pierce O'Leary vs. Kane Gardner RBR.

Alright, the day's here and I'm ready to make my final prediction. I'm going with Zhang by KO7.

Last time Joe came in light, which obviously was the wrong call. I think he overcompensated this time out though, and is now too heavy. The combination of that extra weight and the punches he'll be taking (unless he's learned enough head movement to make a difference) might make a dent in his great workrate and result in us seeing him hit a wall for the first time.

I've seen people mentioning the Joseph Parker fight and how the large weight there didn't have an adverse effect, and I get where they're coming from, but Zhang ain't Parker. He hits harder and unless something has gone horribly wrong he'll probably still be able to nullify the jab. Even if Joe is still somehow able to throw as much as he did against Parker, he isn't going to have near as much success as he did there.

Not at all ruling out Joe winning however. As someone rooting for Big Bang, I'm very concerned with how much heavier he is too. His gas tank, though not necessarily as bad as some folks say, is still pretty bad. That extra weight could result in him gassing out even sooner than normal, and against a Joe who will be hitting harder that's a bad position to be in. If that's the case, he's gotta hope Joe's eye swells up sooner, either for a TKO again or so he can effectively be fighting a half blind opponent in the event of a less cautious referee, or the extra weight has given him enough power to crack Joe's legendary chin early in the fight. I see it happening which is why I went with my prediction, but if it doesn't then that's bad news for Big Bang.

Not much longer now fellas. I got a feeling we're in for a hell of a fight

 

Is there anyone on Youtube legally broadcasting it? If I remember right, IB posted one of Thailand's biggest sport channels showing the fight on Youtube, they had over 5 million subscribers and it got deleted wrongfully on YT during the fight. They had the rights to this and I hope they sued.

Is there anything similar today?

 

The real way for Joyce to beat Zhang is draw it late then get on Zhang's chest and beat him like a drum AND

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ZHANG IS LIKE FURY TO THE BODY INPENETRABLE.

Problem is Zhang knows how to defend in close and is so so dangerous to close range on. Joyce likes to create room for himself in close...and Joyce is an accumulation fighter so even when he does get off at close range it isn't the most damaging work.

Basically Joyce has to find a way to avoid and get past that bomb of a left hand and outwork Zhang...but that was known even in the first fight and within 4 rounds Joyce who was trying to box long was getting snipered. He did try to switch the gameplan and close on Zhang but jesus christ it was like watching an eyeball murder scene.

I think we're going to see Zhang establish himself as a new Fury opponent tonight...or Joyce pulls off a great win which REGARDLESS of changes is going to be hard at times. He might even get dropped.

This is a great heavyweight fight. Joyce has found his bogeyman and shouldn't be disregarded should he lose again....

 

Joyce via controversial decision. More grappling than first fight, not nearly as exciting as both fighters have extra weight this time.

 

Extremely curious as to what adjustments Joyce will show. Also extremely sad that one of those man has to take an L. Both are fresh and good for the division. Clearly fighting man, not bussinessmen.

 

I go with Zhang TKO in rounds 9-12.

I dont belive that Joe in his age can change this aspects which cost him loss in first fight.
Zhilei its all wrong for him.
Joyce is too slow and got too poor defence. He will be even slower this time so Zhang will be catch him with big shoots easy.
Probably Joe add weight too make fight dirty as possible just to tire Zhang out but I think Chinese man will be able to take his oppurtinity and do damage beetwen Joyce wrestling.

Joe will meet bigger man with better technical skills, quicker and heavier hands and strong chin. With his poor defence consisting of taking shoots on head and still attack Joyce will be take punishment again. And I wonder how his head will accept fact that his chin cant take shoots from Zhang without risk of being knock out.

Off course Joe is class dude from top 10- big, strong, tough boxer with great engine. He have chance here.
I would say its 70-30% here for Zhang.

Wish us great fight.

 

Joyce will take heavy shots early on again. Zhang is super sneaky with his counters and has really fast hands. But I believe Joyce will fight most of this fight at close range, smothering Zhang and working the body. For me his problem last time out was that he was hanging around on the outside where Zhang could just detonate that left hand on him over and over.

Around the mid-rounds, I see Zhang's shots having less and less effect while Joyce will start upping the pace and starting to land cleaner shots.

Late on, Zhang will be exhausted and Joyce finally puts him down. Joyce KO10

WAR JUGGERNAUT

 

I’m going with SOMEONE is going down before the 10th!!!!

May the best man win

 

Excited for this. Zhang TKO 7.

 

Bit worried about Joyce coming in so heavy, however he is a consummate pro so I'm sure it's by design. The extra weight probably indicates he will try to tie up and wear down Zhang, it's would have been either that or come in light and keep it long range, in either case the key is to avoid the mid range exchanges. I think the first few rounds will be scrappy, but as long as the fight goes into the later rounds with Joyce intact I would favour him.

 

Checking in ! Hopefully no freak injuries and we’ll get a good one