The heavyweight division is on fire at the moment. Anthony Joshua is expected to return this spring, Deontay Wilder is expected to fight Andy Ruiz and there is a pathway to crowning an undisputed heavyweight champion. Adding to the exciting heavyweight slate, undefeated heavyweight contender Joe Joyce is scheduled to fight Zhilei Zhang on April 15, 2023 at Copper Box Arena.
“This is another cracker of a card that should be in keeping with the special night we all just enjoyed at Wembley,” promoter Frank Warren said, per Boxing Scene.
“We want to keep Big Joe busy while the heavyweight title scene unfolds but there can be no easy touches in a defense of his WBO Interim title. Zhilei Zhang is anything but an easy touch, he is a formidable powerhouse who can consider himself unlucky not to be still an unbeaten contender following his fight with Filip Hrgovic last year.”
Joe Joyce has put together a pro record of 15-0 with 14 knockouts. In his last five fights, he has stopped legitimate contenders like Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois and Christian Hammer. Meanwhile, Zhilei Zhang has put together a record of 24-1 with 19 knockouts, but he is coming off the first loss of his career.
“This is a great fight for boxing and a great opportunity for Zhilei,” Zhang’s manager, Terry Lane, said.
“Once again, he takes on a challenge that many are running from. There will be fireworks in London on 15 April.”
