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Joe Joyce refuses to retire despite being knocked out twice by Zhang Zhilei and remains determined to challenge boxers at the top level. Joe Joyce suffered a knockout defeat to Zhilei Zhang in a heavyweight rematch at Wembley, last Saturday night.
However, his management team dismissed rumors of retirement by stating that the 38-year-old man would challenge at the top level. Joe Joyce has brushed off talk of retirement as he remains determined to challenge at the top level following his rematch defeat against Zhilei Zhang.
The British challenger was unable to reclaim the WBO interim heavyweight championship belt after losing by knockout in the third round to Zhang at the AO Arena, Wembley, Saturday night. The defeat also means that Joyce cannot reclaim his mandatory WBO title shot against world featherweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, which he had won before his first knockout loss to Zhang in April.
However, SJAM Management will discuss the 38-year-old boxer’s comeback in the next few days and is confident that Joyce will again prove himself as one of the best in the world after wins over Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois and Carlos Takam.
“Joe is an elite fighter who continually challenges himself against those at the top tier of heavyweight boxing – he has one of the best CVs of any active heavyweight boxer,” said SJAM Management.
“He lost to a world-class elite fighter in Zhilei Zhang, but will continue to challenge at the top level.
We will meet as a team this week along with (promoters) Frank and George Warren and plan the way forward.”
Zhang has called for a fight against Tyson Fury following his rematch win, while fellow manager Terry Lane has revealed that American Deontay Wilder could be a potential opponent. However, Saudi Arabia, Britain and America are more likely locations for Zhang’s next fight, despite his growing popularity in China.
“There are so many political and economic issues and obstacles that have to be overcome to do that (hold Zhang’s fight in China),” Lane told Sky Sports.
“We want to do it, we are still exploring that. Actually, Warrens and (promotional team) Top Rank are also helping us. “But we will make it happen, I don’t know when. We will cross the finish line at some point.”
(aww)
