ZHILEI ZHANG VS JOE JOYCE 2 - FIGHT TRENDS AND STATS

In a division where rematches for world titles have become the norm, Zhilei Zhang heads to the UK again this weekend as he looks to defend his WBO Interim World Heavyweight Title in the highly anticipated rematch with fellow Olympic silver medallist Joe Joyce.

Very much the outsider in the first fight between the pair, Zhang shocked the boxing world as he put on a clinic to stop the well-backed Joyce after the doctor deemed it too dangerous for the Brit to continue.

Joyce was in prime position for a mega-money fight prior to that defeat, with clashes against compatriots Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua mooted, but those plans were firmly scuppered after he came across a game Zhang at the Copper Box Arena in April.

This is a fight with plenty on the line for both men. With Zhang now 40, and Joyce 38, defeat for either boxer could potentially lead to the curtain coming down on their career. However, on the flip side, victory will put them in pole position for either a crack at Oleksandr Usyk, or a big-money fight against Joshua or Deontay Wilder.

Check out the main fight stats below and don’t forget to keep up to date with the latest news and interviews from fight week by following us across all of our social media channels HERE!

Zhilei Zhang:

• 3-0 (3 KOs) when fighting in September

• 4-0 (3 KOs) when fighting for a belt

• 19-1-1 when fighting within six months of his last 

• Never stopped an opponent after the sixth round

Joe Joyce:

• 2-0 (2 KOs) when fighting at Wembley Arena

• 1-1 against Southpaws

• 2-0 (2 KOs) when fighting in September

• Only fought past six rounds five times so far in his 16-fight career

Wembley Arena:

• Only one main event from the last seven boxing shows at Wembley Arena has ended in a stoppage

WBO Belt:

• 15 out of the 22 heavyweights to win a version of the WBO world heavyweight title have made a successful first defence