Joe Joyce misplaced his rematch with Zhilei Zhang to make it back-to-back defeats to the Chinese language heavyweight, who will now look to a conflict with Tyson Fury.
Zhang shattered Joyce’s unbeaten file with a sixth-round stoppage in April, with the British fighter coming into Saturday’s Wembley Enviornment bout at his career-heaviest as he sought revenge.
However this efficiency was much more convincing from Zhang, who ended the combat with a brutal knockout within the third spherical.
Southpaw Zhang had advised the Englishman he was again to finish his profession and will effectively have proved true to his phrases with one other chastening defeat for the ‘Juggernaut’, who now faces questions over the place he goes from right here.
Zhang used his second of glory to name out Tyson Fury.
He stated in his ringside interview: “To the viewers, I need to ask you a query: Do you need to see me shut Tyson Fury up?”
On his efficiency, he added: “I’m glad. Like I stated earlier than the combat, it’s going to finish earlier than the primary combat and I did it. Joe, hell of a fighter, respect to him. I like him and respect him, all people please take care of him.”
Joyce regarded comfy within the opening phases of the competition in a somewhat cagey opening, circling away to his left to keep away from Zhang’s left hand in a comparatively quiet first spherical.
However Zhang got here out with rather more intent within the second spherical, actively closing down the space between the 2 fighters to get inside vary of Joyce.
Zhang, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist, was first to land a telling blow within the second, rocking Joyce with an enormous left hand earlier than catching the Englishman once more with one other hook which despatched him onto the ropes earlier than the bell.
Joyce tried to shake off the cobwebs initially of the third, however a double jab noticed Zhang wrestle again the momentum earlier than a shocking finish to the competition.
Zhang labored Joyce with the left earlier than he delivered the knockout blow with a robust proper hook which despatched his 38-year-old opponent to the canvas – and will effectively finish his hopes within the heavyweight division.
Zhang, 40, takes his file to 25 wins, with one defeat and one draw. Joyce left the ring with out conducting an interview.
On the undercard, Ilford boxer Anthony Yarde stopped Portugal’s Jorge Silva within the second spherical to make a formidable return in his first combat since defeat by unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev.
Dubliner Pierce O’Leary retained the WBC worldwide super-lightweight title with a unanimous determination over Manchester’s Kane Gardner.
Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma, 18, produced a blistering first-round knockout of Amine Boucetta for his fifth straight skilled win.
