Joe Joyce gets a second shot at Zhilei Zhang on Saturday as the fighters step into the ring together for the second time this year.
Joyce suffered his first loss in that April bout as Zhang earned a sixth-round stoppage, and the Briton will be full of motivation to win back the WBO interim title he lost to the Chinese fighter.
However, it remains to be seen how well Joyce bounces back from defeat, and at least one pundit is doubtful whether Joyce has what it takes to earn the victory on Saturday.
Speaking to bettingsites.co.uk, Tony Bellew said that Joyce will need to change several things in order to win Saturday's rematch, and he called into question his fellow Brit's punch resistance.
“Joe Joyce is the most durable heavyweight I’ve seen since Oliver McCall," Bellew said. "I’ve never seen a heavyweight take shots like him. But against Zhilei Zhang last time out that was the first time I’ve even seen him react off a punch to the head. He reacted in the second round from a big, straight left to the head.
“I’ve heard a few rumours about how [Joyce] wasn’t that well prepared and thought he would walk through [Zhang] in that first fight. I’m told he’s addressed it all in this camp. I’m not making any excuses for him, as I say Joe Joyce isn’t my fighter. I wish him well. I hope he does it but if that punch resistance has gone, he’s finished.
“Zhang should be undefeated. I believe Zhang defeated Filip Hrgovic [in 2022] but he didn’t get the decision possibly due to the promoters. Then he was expected to get dealt with by Joe Joyce but he didn’t, he turned the clocks back and just couldn’t miss him with that left hand all night long.
“Joe was buckling and I think he’s going to have to change an awful lot if he’s going to win this rematch, not just one thing. Durability is his greatest strength but his workrate, fitness and athleticism are excellent too. I hope Joe can do it but I think his punch resistance has gone.”