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Boxing

Zhilei Zhang ruins Joe Joyce's Tyson Fury dream with sensational stoppage win

Zhilei Zhang ruins Joe Joyce's Tyson Fury dream with sensational stoppage winDAZN

Zhilei Zhang caused a stunning upset when he stopped Joe Joyce in the sixth round of a crazy fight at the Copper Box Arena in London.  

Joyce, who held the WBO interim title going into the bout, was a huge favourite beforehand but it was clear within one minute of the bout that Zhang was going to be a huge problem. 

Using his left hand from the southpaw position, Zhang couldn’t miss Joyce and he managed to stagger the Brit in round two.  

Realising that his left hand was all that was required, Zhang could afford to be patient as he knew that Joyce’s exposed target would present itself throughout the fight as he fought to keep up with Zhang. 

With his right eye closing as each round passed, it was clear that time was running out for Joyce to make any sort of impact in the fight.  

Following an inspection at the start of round six, he was allowed to fight on, but more assaults from Zhang brought the doctor to ringside once more and he instructed Howard Foster to stop the fight. 

Joyce had been dreaming of securing a fight with Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk, but those opportunities are like to fall for Zhang now if an immediate rematch can't be arranged.  

Joyce will have plenty of options, Dillian Whyte was a ringside observer tonight, but this defeat could linger for a long time and there’s no guarantees Joyce will be the same fighter. 

Read below for all tonight's highlights

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