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Boxing

Joe Joyce has made a mistake ahead of Zhilei Zhang rematch according to Paulie Malignaggi

Joe Joyce has made a mistake ahead of Zhilei Zhang rematch according to Paulie MalignaggiDAZN
Joe Joyce is out for revenge on Saturday night.

Saturday night is make or break for British heavyweight Joe Joyce. 

At the OVO Arena Wembley, Joyce steps into the ring once more with Zhilei Zhang in a rematch of their April contest. On that occasion, Zhang shocked the world when he stopped Joyce in the sixth round after the latter's right eye absorbed significant damage. 

Now Joyce is looking to get revenge and get his world title aspirations back on track with a win over his Chinese rival, however Paulie Malignaggi believes it will be Zhang who will have his hand raised once again. 

The reasoning behind this prediction from Malignaggi is not just that Zhang will have the psychological edge over Joyce after the first fight, but also the fact that the "Juggernaut" opted to not have a tune up fight ahead of a huge moment in his boxing career. 

"I think Zhang wins again," Malignaggi told Casino Alpha

"Psychologically, Zhang, having knocked out Joyce and then Joyce choosing to go right back to a rematch instead of taking an in-between fight, is significant.

"When you’ve been knocked out so dominantly, I think an in-between fight is more smart. I don't know if he can make all the adjustments, physically and psychologically,  all in one camp, so I think that those two things will factor in Zhang winning. 

“You haven't even come back with a win before taking the rematch to get that mental edge back, so before that opening bell rings, you know this guy had his way with you the first time.

"There's that creeping doubt in you, that when the bell rings and you're standing right in front of them, you know the danger that he poses.”