The granite chin of Joe Joyce is taking fire but staying firm.

He tries to come forward himself and throw shots of his own but Zhilei Zhang is not looking troubled.

It's been a thrilling start.

Image source, Reuters

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BT Sport

Joe Joyce is not smiling in there. He knows he is in the fight for his life.

Joe Joyce regains his composure but he's on the back foot.

Zhilei Zhang is on top early on in this fight.

Joe Joyce comes forward with a right hand but Zhilei Zhang counters with the left.

The Chinese fighter gets through with a punishing left hook and he is growing in confidence.

The crowd are on edge and the Briton is hanging on.

Image source, Reuters

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BT Sport

If you get caught by big southpaw left crosses, you've got to wake up and Joe has got to wake up.

Richie Woodhall
Former boxing world champion on BT Sport

Joyce keeps getting caught with the left hand. That's why Zhang is moving round to his right, trying to move Joyce onto that shot.

Little bit too static from Joe Joyce at the moment.

It's a steady start as both fighters look to box clever and work each other out.

But Zhilei Zhang is quickly into his rhythm and throws a big left hand.

That wasn't in the script.

The ring walks are complete, the robes have been stripped and we're all set for the main event...

There's been loads of talk this week about heavyweight rankings.

Who is the world's best? Who can count themselves in the top five?

Olympian Frazer Clarke says Joe Joyce is number three behind Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk while rising heavyweight talent David Bankole Adeleye gave his top five.

1. Tyson Fury - WBC champion

2. Oleksandr Usyk - IBF, WBA (Super) and WBO champion

3. Joe Joyce

4. Anthony Joshua

5. Deontay Wilder

Who is in your top five?

Image source, Getty Images

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Copper Box Arena, London

Joe Joyce’s profile has grown over the past few weeks after Anthony Joshua’s underwhelming points win over Jermaine Franklin.

Many fans now consider Joyce to be the favourite if that fight happens.

Joshua says he’d love to fight his former amateur team-mate, and it’s one which would capture the public’s imagination.

A shot at Tyson Fury’s WBC heavyweight title is arguably an easy fight to make for Joyce, with both men signed to promoter Frank Warren.

Fury has lost credibility with some fans, with many blaming him for the undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk not happening. Taking on Joyce could go someway in winning those fans back.

Dillian Whyte
Heavyweight on BT Sport

I think Joe will stop him round nine, round ten.

Here's Joe Joyce, to the music from Sci-Fi film 'The Terminator'.

The crowd like it!

Image source, Getty Images

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Copper Box Arena, London

Joe Joyce cannot afford any complacency against the heavy-hitting Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang.

The Briton may have a granite chin, but being hit flush by Zhang will undoubtedly do some damage.

Zhang narrowly lost to IBF number one ranked Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia in August. Many ringside observers felt Zhang should have been awarded the decision.

I've been speaking to his team this week and they are very confident of causing an upset.

Time for the ring walks. Zhilei Zhang is up first...

Image source, Getty Images

IBF bantamweight champion Ebanie Bridges: “I believe Joe Joyce is going to win. I think it’s going to be a slugfest, they’re both big tanks aren’t they? I can see hardly any defence and see who can take the punches. That’s really how I see it. I just see two bulls at each other. I think Joe Joyce will have a bit more in his tank to get to the end.”

Former world champion Carl Frampton: “It’s a quality fight. Both guys are fit, both guys are durable, but I think Joe Joyce is more fit and more durable than Zhang and that’s where he’ll come a little bit unstuck. I fancy it to be a high-paced fight, maybe a little sticky moments for Joyce, but Joyce to win in the last third of the fight.”

Light-welterweight Ohara Davies: “I think Joe Joyce knocks him out, between round six and round eight. Possibly round nine.”

Thanks to the For Fitness Sake podcast team for gathering these predictions.

Joe Joyce himself was on the podcast this week, talking all things fighting and fitness.

Dillian Whyte
Heavyweight on BT Sport

My business is to see Joe Joyce. Anthony Joshua is not available, so this is the fight to make.

I’d like to get out in the summer and if he’s available to fight in October, September time that would be great.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Copper Box Arena, London

The atmosphere at the Copper Box Arena has been building up nicely. The quite eccentric venue - with its multi-coloured seats - was first built for the London 2012 Olympics.

Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte is in attendance. He is without a scheduled opponent and still a big domestic name. Could an all-British Joyce-Whyte fight be one for later on in the year?

Image source, Getty Images

That win for Mikaela Mayer should put her in prime position to challenge undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor.

Only problem is the Irishwoman appears to have her next two fights mapped out. She steps up to light-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron on 20 May in Dublin and is expected to then fight undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano later this year.

Mayer, now the WBC interim lightweight champion, will hope to be officially named mandatory to Taylor's title, but it may be a race against time to fight the pioneer before she hangs up the gloves.

Image source, PA Media

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Copper Box Arena, London

Joe Joyce’s style and technique can be misleading. He doesn’t glide across the ring and his hand speed and movement is not the quickest.

But almost every boxer I have spoken to this week says not to be fooled. Joyce is relentless.

He wears opponents down to the point of submission. He is always willing to take a shot to give one. And then there is the much talked about chin – Joyce has this ability to shrug off any heavy hit as if it was nothing.

Put simply, he’s a hard man.

See his last fight if you want more convincing.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Copper Box Arena, London

Personality wise, it’s safe to say there is no other boxer quite like Joe Joyce. He has a degree in fine arts, rides around London on a segway and is a keen gamer – he even returned to a paused game straight after knocking out Daniel Dubois in 2020.

He’s not the greatest talker and can seem somewhat awkward in interviews. Boxing fans couldn’t quite warm to him at first, but now find his quirkiness quite endearing and funny. More importantly, Joyce does his talking in the ring.