Joe Joyce takes on Zhilei Zhang in London tonight. The Copper Box Arena is the setting for what should be an explosive heavyweight main event between two massive but skilled punchers, with Joyce hoping to win emphatically to finally set up an overdue meeting with one of boxing’s biggest names.
‘The Juggernaut’ has his sights firmly set on the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk as he defends the WBO interim title picked up with a gruelling late knockout of Joseph Parker in September, but cannot afford to take the challenge of Zhang lightly. The towering Chinese southpaw – nicknamed ‘Big Bang’ – is a fellow powerful Olympic silver medalist and veteran campaigner who will be desperate to avenge his contentious first professional defeat by Filip Hrgovic last year.
Mikaela Mayer fights late replacement opponent Lucy Wildheart in the co-main event after Christina Linardatou failed a medical. Exciting prospect Moses Itauma was taken the distance by Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko, while Sam Noakes stopped Karthik Sathish Kumar early and Denzel Bentley retained his British middleweight title with a ruthless 45-second stoppage of Kieran Smith. Follow Joyce vs Zhang live below!
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Mayer vs Wildheart
This is a decent scrap through three – I have Mayer up 3-0 but wouldn’t begrudge anyone who has it 2-1.
Mayer is doing much the better work and landing the more eye-catching shots, but the energetic Wildheart is undeterred and has a few dangerous weapons – including a decent hook to the body.
Mayer knows she’s in a fight here and there looks to be a bit of damage around her eye.
Mayer vs Wildheart
A close opener shaded by Mayer, who will be pleased with her solid start.
Wildheart has nothing to lose and has plenty of pluck and energy, trying to apply the pressure on the front foot and let her hands go.
But Mayer develops into a rhythm in the second, fighting well at range and landing the better shots.
Mayer vs Wildheart
That split decision loss against Baumgardner was the first of Mayer’s career – she is currently 17-1 with five knockouts.
Wildheart is a familiar face at lightweight and comes in with a pro record of 10-1, having reeled off five successive wins since her lone defeat by Estelle Yoka-Mossely in the summer of 2019.
She outpointed Claudia Ferenczi on her last outing in Rotherham last year.
The Swede was in shape to take this fight as she was due to be in the ring in a few weeks’ time anyway.
Can she spring a huge shock tonight on such short notice? Stranger things have happened, but it’s a very tall order indeed.
Mayer vs Wildheart
Former unified super-featherweight world champion Mayer is on the comeback trail, having been edged by great rival Alycia Baumgardner on her last trip to London in October.
Now the American is at lightweight and hoping to become the top challenger for undisputed queen Katie Taylor, who takes on Chantelle Cameron in her homecoming fight in Dublin next month.
This fight is for the WBC interim lightweight title.
Mayer vs Wildheart next
Almost time for the co-main event of the night at London’s Copper Box Arena, which has filled up nicely.
Mikaela Mayer is in the ring shortly as she battles late replacement opponent Lucy Wildheart, the Swede who is based in Essex.
Wildheart took this challenge on just 24 hours’ notice after Christina Linardatou surprisingly failed a pre-fight medical yesterday.
Reports suggest that Greece’s two-time world champion Linardatou was pulled from the bout due to a permanent lens in her eye that she has fought with for her entire career.
A puzzling decision given that Linardatou has been cleared to fight in the UK twice before – against Katie Taylor in 2019 and Sam Smith in 2015.
Itauma confirms he did injure his lead hand during the fight, but he’s still visibly disappointed not to have got the stoppage.
He wants a step up in quality next.
Itauma taken distance by Dovbyshchenko
Not sure what the issue was for Itauma there – it may well have been his left hand.
It prevents him from really driving for the stoppage in the final round and his pro knockout streak is ended in his third outing.
But nevertheless an absolutely dominant display in which he delivered so much heavy punishment and showed so much of his enormous quality and potential.
His body work is fantastic in particular.
He’ll be disappointed not to get the knockout, but six rounds and 18 minutes under the belt at this stage of his development is hugely valuable.
A lot of credit goes to Dovbyshchenko too. Supremely durable and he’s still never been stopped.
Itauma vs Dovbyshchenko
Itauma is seriously, seriously impressive for his age.
The variety, anticipation, movement and power makes for a phenomenal package at just 18.
The heavy shots continue to thud into Dovbyshchenko, who deserves an award for his ability to withstand so many wincing blows.
Itauma unleashed a gorgeous right hook to the body, right uppercut, left hand combo a little while ago that would have floored most heavyweights.
But still Dovbyshchenko cannot be stopped, despite having his energy completely drained by those sapping body shots.
We will head into the sixth and final round. Can Itauma get him out of there? Sounded like he might have had an injury issue after a chat with the corner.
Itauma vs Dovbyshchenko
Dillian Whyte is watching Itauma at ringside, along with Moses’ older brother Karol.
Dovbyshchenko further demonstrates his durability in the third, even unwisely smiling and goading Itauma after absorbing a succession of further heavy punches and being wobbled.
Itauma rattles in another ferocious right hook behind the elbow, following it up with a couple of fast shots upstairs.
The serious punishment continues, but the hard-as-nails Dovbyshchenko is unfazed and continues to shrug it off.
Another round under the belt for Itauma.
Itauma vs Dovbyshchenko
Big credit to Dovbyshchenko, who takes a savage hook behind the elbow early in the second but somehow shrugs it off. He’s a tough man.
Completely one-way traffic of course, with Itauma constantly on the front foot and picking a nice variety of heavy punches.
Dovbyshchenko’s durability means Itauma is having to work much more for this, which can only be a positive for his development.
The Ukrainian makes it to the end of the second.
