Joe Joyce will face a rematch against Zhilei Zhang in London later this year as he bids to get back on track for a world heavyweight championship fight.
Chinese boxer Zhang delivered a major blow to the Brit’s title dreams in April with a bruising sixth-round stoppage, Joyce’s first defeat of his professional career.
There had been talk of the pair heading to Beijing after the rematch clause was activated, but Joyce’s team have secured Wembley Arena as the venue for this bout on September 23, 2023.
“I’m coming back to take back what’s mine,” 37-year-old Joyce declared with Thursday’s announcement.
I’m coming back to take back what’s mine. September 23rd I am leaving everything in that ring. No compromises. No underestimating my opponent. Nothing, but a win. pic.twitter.com/GQLnalGbhd
— Joe Joyce (@JoeJoyceBoxing) June 29, 2023
“September 23rd I am leaving everything in that ring. No compromises. No underestimating my opponent. Nothing, but a win.”
Zhang, 40, was linked with fighting Tyson Fury after upsetting Joyce to claim the WBO interim heavyweight title, which will again be on the line in September.
Oleksandr Usyk is the current reigning WBO heavyweight champion and the victorious fighter in Zhang vs Joyce 2 could be handed a shot at the belt as the mandatory challenger, amid talk of Usyk fighting Fury later this year.
