Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce II set for OVO Arena, Wembley on September 23

Huge Bang Zhang and Juggernaut Joyce first collided in mid-April on the Copper Field Area, the place it was Zhang who left the venue in possession of the WBO Interim Heavyweight World Championship strap.

Referee Howard Foster stopped the struggle within the sixth spherical as a result of heavy swelling round the fitting eye of defending champion Joyce.

The Chinese language hero Zhang lived as much as his stage title in Stratford, ending the unbeaten skilled file of the man Olympic silver medallist.

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New York-based Zhang, 25-1-1 (20 KOs), turned in a career-best efficiency in London to raise himself into difficult the elite band of heavyweights, however first he should as soon as once more repel the highly effective advances of Joyce, 15-1 (14 KOs), who will likely be decided to regain his misplaced property and place himself again on the high of the WBO rankings.

“I created historical past final time,” mentioned Zhang. “And I consider one of the simplest ways to inherit historical past is to create new ones. I have a look at the rematch as if it was a brand new struggle; I have a look at Joe Joyce as if I by no means fought him earlier than. I began from zero and that is the brand new self.”

“I’m coming again to take again what’s mine,” declared Joyce. “September 2nd I’m leaving the whole lot in that ring. No compromises. No underestimating my opponent. Nothing, however a win.

“Final day trip I misplaced my undefeated skilled file. It was onerous to take. However after the mud settled, all that can do is make me higher. I’ve discovered classes. I’m prepared. And I’m coming for the whole lot.”

“It is a struggle with excessive stakes written throughout it,” acknowledged promoter Frank Warren. “The primary struggle in April was the very best heavyweight struggle made this yr and I’m anticipating extra of the identical on the OVO Area on September 23.

“Joe will acknowledge that Zhilei did a quantity on him on the Copper Field and he has lots to work on to place it proper. However he is aware of what he has obtained to do, and his fast future relies on him regaining his place as WBO Interim world champion.

“Fortunately, for Joe’s sake, the rotation system for obligatory challenges with the governing our bodies means the WBO contender towards the unified champion has but to be referred to as, so victory in September will put Joe proper again within the body to struggle whoever emerges victorious out of the present champion Oleksandr Usyk and his subsequent challenger, Daniel Dubois.

“That is why the stakes are so extremely excessive for each fighters and I hope and anticipate that Wembley will likely be packed to the rafters for such a big heavyweight match.”

Tickets to see the heavyweight conflict between Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce on the OVO Area, Wembley on Saturday 23 September, go on common sale at noon on Friday 30 June from AXS.com.

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