In the scorching Las Vegas heat, Joe Joyce is diligently working to rectify the mistakes that dealt a significant blow to his world heavyweight title aspirations.
‘The Juggernaut’ had established himself as a force of nature prior to his encounter with Zhilei Zhang in April. Victories against Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker showcased Joyce’s considerable prowess. However, he encountered a formidable opponent in Zhang, who ultimately secured a sixth-round stoppage victory. The ringside examination of Joyce’s right eye by the on-site doctor resulted in the fight being called off. The Joe Joyce express had derailed.
Boxing News conducted interviews with both Joyce and his trainer, Ismael Salas, to delve into what went wrong against Zhang and why the outcome will differ this time around.
“Things are progressing well,” Joyce stated.
“I have taken the necessary steps to ensure everything is organized and improved compared to the last training camp. I am ensuring that everything is in order for me to secure the win and continue my journey.”
There were signs suggesting that not everything was ideal during the preparations for the previous fight. For instance, Joyce weighed in at 256lbs for the Zhang bout, a weight he had not reached since his encounter with Daniel Dubois four years ago. Joyce emerged victorious that night, but Dubois was far less experienced and struggled to contend with the power of Joyce’s jab.
In the subsequent three fights against Takam, Parker, and Christian Hammer, Joyce maintained an average weight of 266lbs. Each opponent was defeated by Joyce’s power, chin, and durability, not by refined boxing techniques.
“There was something in my diet that was not beneficial for me, but it has been addressed,” Joyce explained in reference to his lighter frame in the previous fight.
“I will return to my usual weight and train accordingly for this fight. I am not a pushover. I need to defeat him and progress from there.”
Another perplexing observation was Joyce’s struggle against Zhang’s southpaw style. Having traveled extensively during his extensive amateur career, Joyce would have encountered numerous left-handed fighters. One notable occasion was his memorable clash against Oleksandr Usyk a decade ago during a World Series of Boxing fixture at York Hall between the Ukraine Otamans and the British Lionhearts.
“There is a need for additional practice and strategic planning for the next fight,” Joyce acknowledged.
“Zhang is a crafty individual. He possesses vast experience and has faced numerous orthodox fighters, including Filip Hrgovic, which resulted in a closely contested decision.”
As Joyce continued his conversation with BN, it gradually became apparent that all was not well behind the scenes.
“There were a few things concerning the buildup to the camp, including team-related aspects, but I won’t delve into them. Several details had been overlooked. This training camp is aimed at correcting those mistakes, streamlining the process, ensuring I am fully aware of what I am doing, and delivering a performance that secures victory this time,” Joyce disclosed.
“There has been substantial talk about my granite chin, and perhaps I became somewhat complacent in training. It served as a valuable lesson and something I need to rectify this time.”
Salas regarded Joyce’s defeat as a “wake-up call” and emphasized the importance of enhancing his defensive capabilities.
“We need to enhance, or rather improve, defensive skills,” Salas remarked. “That is precisely what we are working on. I won’t divulge our specific approach, but we are striving for improvement. There are three types of weapons: footwork, arms, and body. We are focusing on these areas to best approach Zhilei Zhang. That is our primary objective.”