Summary

  • Joe Joyce suffers another defeat Zhilei Zhang in their heavyweight rematch

  • China's Zhang stops Joyce in round three after dominating

  • Zhang retains WBO interim title and mandatory challenger status to Oleksandr Usyk

  • Joyce falls to second defeat in a row and just the second in his pro career

  • Fellow Briton Anthony Yarde stops Jorge Silva in two rounds on undercard

  • Yarde wants to fight winner of Joshua Buatsi v Dan Azeez next

  • Get involved #bbcboxing

  1. Zhang v Joyce: Head to headpublished at 22:47 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Zhang v Joyce h2hImage source, Getty Images
    Zhang v Joyce h2hImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 22:46 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Now, here comes WBO interim heavyweight title holder Zhilei Zhang.

    He walks out to 'We Will Rock You' by Queen. A classic choice.

  3. Watch: 12 rounds with Joe Joycepublished at 22:45 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Media caption,

    Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang:

  4. Postpublished at 22:43 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at OVO Arena, Wembley

    Joe Joyce came out to the theme tune of sci-fi film The Terminator last time which, in hindsight, was quite appropriate.

    Joyce looked robotic throughout the bout and then - with his right eye marked and swollen shut - resembled the character by the end of it.

    This time, he is walking out to 'Hallelujah' by Jeff Buckley. Which is a very different vibe.

  5. Postpublished at 22:42 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    We are rapidly approaching the main event - Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang 2. After the final two undercard bouts went by in a flash, we get the ringwalks for the main event slightly earlier than expected.

    How do you think this one will go? Let's have a straw poll - thumbs up this post if you're backing Joyce to win, thumbs down if you reckon Zhang will triumph.

    All vote... now!

  6. 'I will end Joyce's career' - Zhangpublished at 22:40 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Zhilei Zhang has told Joe Joyce "I'm here to end your career" in tonight's heavyweight rematch.

    "For the first fight you gave me the opportunity, but your team made a mistake in choosing me," Zhang said.

    Speaking at Thursday's news conference, he added: "Your team going for the rematch is a bigger mistake. I'm here to end your career."

    Joyce, who was undefeated in 15 fights with 14 knockouts before his loss at London's Copper Box Arena, replied: "Let's see it then. Let's have it."

    You can read more of what the pair had to say to each other here.

    Zhang and Joyce shake handsImage source, Getty Images
  7. Zhang deserving of world-title shot?published at 22:37 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at OVO Arena, Wembley

    Zhilei Zhang is a serious heavyweight contender. He was unfortunate not to be awarded the decision when he fought Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic in August 2022.

    Had he won, Zhang would be the IBF mandatory challenger and next in line to face unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

  8. 'I want the Buatsi fight'published at 22:35 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Anthony Yarde, speaking to TNT Sports after his second round knockout win over Jorge Silva: “For me, after nine months out of the ring, when you’re in there it’s like a blur sometimes. I feel like I started slow but I needed to get my timing.

    "In sparring I take guys apart, but when you’re in there you’ve got to be careful. I’ve been in big fights, but I’m still fighting a lot on instinct. Call it ring rust, but I was happy get back in there today.

    “What AY wants to achieve is world honours. I want to be world champion. I want to go down in history as a kid from east London who had 12 amateur fights and went on to be world champ.

    "I want the Buatsi fight. He has to get through Dan Azeez, he ain’t no easy customer. Even before he made the Azeez fight, we sat down and said 2024 we have to fight. We shook on it.”

    Yarde's promoter Frank Warren: “I genuinely think Buatsi-Azeez, the winner wouldn’t be a problem for us. That’s pushing an open door that one.

    "Outside of the world champions, Yarde is the best. In terms of Buatsi v Azeez winner, nothing should stand in the way of making that happen.”

    Anthony Yarde celebrates with his fist in the airImage source, Getty Images
  9. Conor Benn returns after doping scandalpublished at 22:30 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Conor Benn has said more fighters will test positive for clomifene, as he prepares to make his return to boxing.

    Benn faces Rodolfo Orozco in Florida in his first fight since the lifting of a provisional ban imposed when he twice tested positive for clomifene.

    Clomifene is banned inside and outside competition in boxing.

    The 26-year-old, who has not fought since April 2022, said the fertility drug was consumed through food.

    "There's no holes in the truth. There's nothing to hide," said Benn.

    You can read what he had to say here.

    Conor BennImage source, Getty Images
  10. Sandy Ryan: From Olympic heartbreak to brink of unificationpublished at 22:28 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    "This is where I can make a massive name for myself."

    Despite becoming a world champion earlier this year, Sandy Ryan believes her fight with Jessica McCaskill could be her breakout moment.

    Ryan became WBO welterweight champion in April when she defeated Marie-Pier Houle by unanimous decision.

    The 30-year-old will make her first title defence against McCaskill, who is the WBC and WBA champion, tonight in Orlando, USA when all three world titles will be up for grabs.

    The path to this fight for unified world honours started in 2007 when Ryan followed her brother into a boxing gym.

    "I've always been sporty and played football, but my brother was a professional fighter and that made me get into boxing. I started when I was 14 and I loved it," Ryan tells BBC Sport.

    You can read more of what Ryan had to say here.

    Sandy RyanImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 22:26 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    As well as tonight's action at Wembley, there are a couple of big fights happening stateside we'd like to flag up for you as well...

  12. 'Yarde did what he had to do'published at 22:24 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Yarde stops Silva

    Carl Frampton
    Former world champion on TNT Sports

    "He has done what he had to do tonight. He was expected to stop that guy and that’s exactly what he did.”

  13. Easy work for Yardepublished at 22:22 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at OVO Arena, Wembley

    Jorge Silva is no world beater, but Anthony Yarde looked sharp. Mixing up his shots to the head and body, with his opponent wincing at every punch.

    I expect Yarde to have another run-out later this year before a big fight in early 2024.

    Boxing fans want to see him face the winner of Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez, who fight on 21 October.

  14. Yarde beats Silvapublished at 22:20 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Well, there's only one update from Anthony Yarde we need to bring you.

    He has utterly dominated Jorge Silva and wins with a second round stoppage.

    Anthony Yarde punches Jorge SilvaImage source, Getty Images
  15. Zhilei Zhang v Joe Joyce II: Predictionspublished at 22:19 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    But there are a few who are backing Zhang to make in two in two...

    WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan: "It would be nice to see Joyce come back with a win but Zhang is very good. It might be the same outcome."

    Boxing trainer Dave Coldwell: "Everything is riding on this fight for Joyce. Can he do it? Yeah I do think he can but it depends on the quality of southpaw sparring he's had. Has he learned, in these two camps now, how to deal with a southpaw? Because if he hasn't, he's in a world of trouble."

    British heavyweight Anthony Yarde, who fights on the undercard: "I really want Joyce to get revenge and be back in the mix for a world title, but he has his work cut out. He was getting hit with some clean back hands in the first fight. I was ringside and could hear the shots being landed.

    "I don't see him beating Zhang unless he can somehow execute a perfect gameplan."

    Zhilei ZhangImage source, Getty Images
  16. Zhilei Zhang v Joe Joyce II: Predictionspublished at 22:18 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    There are a fair few in the world of boxing who are backing Joyce to make amends tonight...

    Undefeated lightweight Caroline Dubois: "I think Joyce starts sharper and switched on for the first few rounds, avoiding Zhang's shots. After focusing on defence he'll then step it up and then look to get Zhang out late - maybe in rounds 10-12. It will be a good fight but I think Joyce will get his revenge."

    Light-heavyweight prospect Ben Whittaker: "It's a tough one especially after the first fight. But I believe in Joyce, especially with his engine and his chin. He looks good in training. I am going for a unanimous points decision for Joyce."

    Former world lightweight champion Anthony Crolla: "One of Joyce's assets is the pace he sets. He has one of the best engines in the division, without a shadow of a doubt. He's got to make Zhang work hard early on, be more switched on defensively and drag Zhang into the second half of the fight and catch up there.

    "I do think he wins. I think we will see a late stoppage from Joyce to regain his mandatory position."

    Former light-middleweight world champion Hannah Rankin: "This is definitely a tough fight for Joyce but I expect him to have learned from the first fight and as long as he's more active and doesn't let Zhang get into a rhythm, then I think we could see him take back his title."

    WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith: "I think Joyce stops him in the second half of the fight. Zhang was tiring in the last fight and I think Joe is smart enough to make adjustments early on to not get hit as much. So I think providing he doesn't take too much damage early on, Joyce can get to Zhang and stop him later on in the fight."

    Joe JoyceImage source, Getty Images
  17. Joyce 'regrets' picking Zhang as opponentpublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at OVO Arena, Wembley

    Joe Joyce was already mandatory for Usyk’s WBO title and did not need to fight Zhilei Zhang in April. The feeling was that left-hander Zhang would be the ideal opponent to prepare for southpaw Usyk, but it was a risky fight to take for Joyce.

    In an age where opponents are cherry picked and fighters carefully manoeuvred towards a world-title shot, perhaps we should be giving Joyce a little credit for taking on Zhang in the first place. He could have picked an easier opponent.

    Although Joyce did say he "regrets" the choice, and probably should have just waited it out for a world-title challenge.

  18. Yarde v Silva: Head to headpublished at 22:13 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Yarde v Silva h2hImage source, BBC Sport
  19. Postpublished at 22:12 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Anthony Yarde has just entered the ring for his clash with Jorge Silva, the final bout of the undercard before the main event tonight.

    We'll continue our build-up to Zhang v Joyce, but will keep you up to date with how Yarde is getting on.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 23 September 2023

    Itauma gets another knockout

    Itauma's promoter Frank Warren: "Itauma is such a special talent! He’s heading to the very top no doubt!"

    Martin Cee: "Itauma take a bow… Some speed there for a big fella!"

    Mike Smith: "Itauma Next Big Thing!"

    Steve Eaton: "Wow. Moses Itauma is an absolute machine. Incredible KO."