Joe Joyce thinks that Deontay Wilder’s power could see him get past Zhilei Zhang next month.
Zhang and Wilder go head to head next month for the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5 vs. 5 match-up, which sees five fighters from their respective stables face off in Saudi Arabia.
Wilder’s most recent fight was a defeat to Joseph Parker, while Zhang also came off second best against Parker when he took his WBO interim championship.
Joyce fought Zhang twice, giving up that WBO belt in the first and failing to win it back in the second.
Speaking to Ash Rose via Freebets, Joyce thinks Wilder can show patience to seize the opportunity against his Chinese opponent.
He said: “When Wilder fought King Kong, [Tito] Ortiz, Ortiz was kind of winning until he stopped his footwork and then started going the other way and then that's when he got tagged there.
“Now, Zhang hasn't got as good footwork but has a great defence and he hits very hard counters as well, fast. But Wilder, I think, will have quicker footwork and he can obviously hit but he's quite patient in waiting for that opportunity. It's like, it's like two snipers that circle each other, I think.
“I think Zhang's got the better boxing technique and he's a southpaw, but I don't know, maybe the best man wins. Wilder obviously can hit, but I think it's going to be a really interesting fight.”
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