Joe Joyce v Zhilei Zhang II - as it happened

Joe Joyce faces Zhilei Zhang at Wembley Arena on Saturday September 23, seeking to avenge his first professional loss suffered in April. It will be shown exclusively live on TNT Sports. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. Follow LIVE round-by-round coverage here.

Joe Joyce in action during the WBO Interim World Heavyweight Title fight between Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang at Copper Box Arena on April 15, 2023 in London, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

2330 - WHAT A NIGHT OF BOXING!

It maybe didn't have the ending many of us wanted but what a dramatic way to end the night. Thanks for following the action with us.

‘An absolutely brutal ending’ - Zhang defends WBO interim heavyweight title with stunning KO

Video credit: TNT Sports

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There is plenty more boxing to come in the next month with Masood Abdullah-Marc Leach, right here on TNT Sports on October 6, before the 'Battle of the Baddest' between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou on TNT Sports Box Office on October 28.

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2317: WARREN PREDICTS A "MASSIVE SHOOTOUT" WHEN FURY MEETS NGANNOU

And the only place you can see this fight will be on TNT Sports Box Office.

2310: "DO YOU WANT TO SEE ME SHUT TYSON FURY UP?"

Zhang asks the crowd whether they would like to see a fight with Tyson Fury. This would be a huge fight in every possible way.

2308: A PUNCH WHICH WILL REVERBERATE AROUND THE WORLD

‘An absolutely brutal ending’ - Zhang defends WBO interim heavyweight title with stunning KO

Video credit: TNT Sports

Zhang has been seen as an unfashionable heavyweight. After this knockout that could well change.

JOE JOYCE V ZHILEI ZHANG - ROUND 3: ZHANG WINS BY KNOCKOUT

Zhang lands an incredible right hook to put Joyce on the canvas and the Londoner could not rise quickly enough to beat the count of ten. Joyce was landing shots early in the round, but when he stopped throwing he was standing in front of Zhang who was landing big left hands, including one to the body which made the challenger wince. The ending of this fight was the highlight reel shot Zhang needed to put his name in lights and quite possibly now set up a huge heavyweight contest for him.

JOE JOYCE V ZHILEI ZHANG - ROUND 2: JOYCE CAUGHT BY HUGE LEFT HAND

The same shot which caused all the damage in the first fight, as Zhang lands a one-two with a crushing left making Joyce wobbly on his feet. At the end of the round, Joyce took two right hooks as Zhang teed up against the Brit with his back to the ropes.

JOE JOYCE V ZHILEI ZHANG – ROUND 1: VERY SLOW FIRST ROUND

Both just feeling the other out and scheming to get their front foot outside that of their opponent, as is always the case in orthodox-southpaw contests.

2250: JOYCE-ZHANG MOMENTS AWAY

Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs) looks to regain the WBO Interim Heavyweight championship belt against Zhang 25-1-1 (20 KOs).

2246: ZHANG MAKING HIS WAY TO RING

Queen's 'We will Rock you' is playing as he makes his way down the aisle.

2244: JOYCE ENTERS THE ARENA

And the tempo is upped with his own theme tune Big Juggernaut by Eyez.

2242: THE FIGHTERS ARE NOW BEING INTRODUCED

First up Joe Joyce - Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah is playing.

2240 - CHECK OUT YARDE'S STOPPAGE WIN

2234: JOYCE INSISTS HE WILL NOT REPEAT SAME MISTAKES

Exclusive: Joyce says 'mistakes put right' ahead of Zhang rematch

Video credit: TNT Sports

2230: REPEAT OR REVENGE? JOYCE-ZHANG UP NEXT

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2228: YARDE READY FOR WINNER OF BUATSI-AZEEZ

These two fight on October 21 and Yarde wants the winner. Frank Warren says making this contest will be "pushing an open door".

2222: CHECK OUT THE EXPLOSIVE MOSES ITAUMA

'There is the destructive power' - Itauma stops Boucetta with flurry of punches

Video credit: TNT Sports

YARDE V SILVA: ROUND 2 - YARDE WINS BY KNOCKOUT

He switched from punishing body shots to a right uppercut which hurt Silva and made him a sitting target. A short chopping right hand in the corner, then a follow up right hand put Silva down and though he attempted to stand at the count of nine the referee waved the bout off.

YARDE V SILVA: ROUND 1 - YARDE IN TOTAL CONTROL

He hurt Silva with three body shots in the first half of the round and then landed with frequent jabs thereafter. You get a feeling when he lands a right upstairs it will be over.

2211: YARDE ON HIS WAY TO THE RING

To the strains of Snoop Dogg and 2Pac's 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted. Nice choice.

2210: WATCH JOE JOYCE V ZHILEI ZHANG ON TNT SPORTS

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2205: ANTHONY YARDE UP NEXT

Yarde (22-3, 22 KOs) wanted a return to the ring after losing to Artur Beterbiev in January and will take on Portugal's Jorge Silva (22-8).

2200: IMPRESSIVE SHOW OF POWER!

Itauma improves his record to 5-0 (3 KOs) and while a fight he was never going to lose it was just the second stoppage Boucetta has suffered.

ITAUMA V BOUCETTA: ROUND 1 - ITAUMA WINS WITH FIRST-ROUND STOPPAGE

A fantastic left uppercut sent Boucetta to the floor and was the beginning of the end. Itauma then landed another two uppercuts amongst a flurry which saw the towel be thrown into the ring and referee stop the contest.

2156: ANOTHER BATTLE OF HEAVYWEIGHTS NOW

Moses Itauma (4-0, 2 KOs) takes on Amine Boucetta (7-8) of Belgium.

2155: ZHANG PREDICTS REPEAT NOT REVENGE

Our main event not too long away now. The Chinese giant insists he will once again humble Joyce.

Exclusive: 'Mission impossible' - Zhang confident of chances ahead of Joyce rematch

Video credit: TNT Sports

2153: WATCH JOE JOYCE V ZHILEI ZHANG ON TNT SPORTS

O'LEARY WINS POINTS DECISION!

O'Leary wins by scores of 100-90 and 99-92. I had it a bit closer than that, but no doubt about the winner.

O'LEARY V GARDNER - ROUND 10 - BOTH EMPTY THE TANK IN FINAL ROUND

Gardner lands three big right hands in the last round, two in succession in the last ten seconds, leading to a roar from the Englishman, but O'Leary took the shots and surely holds on for a points victory.

O'LEARY V GARDNER - ROUND 9 - O'LEARY'S NOSE NOW BLOODIED

A close round but Gardner might have taken that one. But it feels too little, too late at this stage.

O'LEARY V GARDNER - ROUND 8 - GARDNER RECOVERED AND COMPETITIVE AGAIN

But is it is O'Leary who is landing with the better shots.

O'LEARY V GARDNER: ROUND 7 - GARDNER AGAIN WOBBLED

This time a right hand straight through the Gardner guard had the Lancastrian rocking back on the ropes and it was mainly one-way traffic thereafter.

O'LEARY V GARDNER: ROUND 6 - THE FIGHT TURNED WITH A LEFT HOOK

Gardner was winning the round and landing with more regularity than the Irishman but a lunging left hook had Gardner's legs wobbling and he did well to stay on his feet, going into survival mode for the rest of the round.

O'LEARY V GARDNER: ROUND 5 - WE HAVE A FIGHT NOW!

Gardner has opened up a cut on the left eyebrow of O'Leary from a right hand and is landing with left hooks as well. The Englishman's round.

2120: WATCH PARKER CALL OUT YARDE

O'LEARY V GARDNER: ROUND 4 - GARDNER SHOWING BETTER MOVEMENT

But when he looks to punch off this, it does open himself up to counters from O'Leary including a sharp right hand. Gardner landed the odd left hand, but still more coming the other way.

O'LEARY V GARDNER: ROUND 3 - ONE-WAY TRAFFIC AT PRESENT

Three rounds to none in the favour of O'Leary. If Gardner's corner are hoping O'Leary blows himself out, they might have to think again.

O'LEARY V GARDNER: ROUND 2 - GARDNER GETTING TRAPPED ON ROPES

TNT Sports expert pundit Richie Woodhall wants to see the English fighter moving better laterally because moving backwards he is just fodder for O'Leary to launch power shots.

O'LEARY V GARDNER: ROUND 1 - O'LEARY DOMINATES FIRST ROUND

A body shot around the, erm, guard of Gardner saw the Brit stumble back against the ropes which may have kept him up.

2103: O'LEARY-GARDNER UP NEXT

This light-welterweight contest looks like an intriguing contest as WBC International champion Pierce O'Leary (12-0, 7 KOs) of Ireland takes on Lancastrian Kane Gardner 16-2 who is on a four-fight win streak.

2057: "BRING ON ANTHONY YARDE" - PARKER

Zach Parker wants an Anthony Yarde fight saying he is too quick for the light heavyweight. There is not a fight fan in Britain who wouldn't want to see that contest.

2055: CHECK OUT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OPENING BOUT

Sugar Boy Roy showed why he is such a highly-touted prospect.

2052: WATCH JOE JOYCE V ZHILEI ZHANG ON TNT SPORTS

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PARKER WINS BY STOPPAGE - GRAIDIA CORNER PULL HIM OUT

That seems the right decision. Graidia was so game he'd have never given up but the broken nose may be why his corner pulled him out of the contest. That is Graidia's first stoppage defeat in six years.

PARKER V GRAIDIA: ROUND 7 - NOTHING BUT ADMIRATION FOR GRAIDIA

He has taken big body shots which would have taken the fight out of many opponents. He is not offering much offensively but has earned his money tonight.

PARKER V GRAIDIA: ROUND 6 - SICKENING BODY SHOT ENDS ROUND

It was more of the same in this round, then Graidia did well to stay on his feet when he took a fierce left to the body just before the bell.

PARKER V GRAIDA: ROUND 5 - PARKER NOT MISSING WITH MUCH

You wonder how long Graidia can go on, or will be allowed to go on, as with either hand and with almost every shot he cannot miss his French opponent.

PARKER V GRADIA: ROUND 4 - GRAIDIA WEATHERS STORM

Early in the round it looked like his energy may be sapped, unsurprisingly, given the shots Parker was landing, especially a sickening uppercut and right hook, but towards the end of the round the Frenchman looked more confident.

PARKER V GRAIDIA: ROUND 3 - PARKER ENJOYING HIS WORK

He is showing good evasive skills, standing in the pocket and veering away from Graidia's shots, before firing backs with good body shots. Graidia's nose is reddening with Parker landing straihgt shots and uppercuts at will as he switched stances in the closing stages.

PARKER V GRAIDIA: ROUND 2 - PARKER BRINGING LEFT HAND INTO PLAY

The British fighter landed with some nice left uppercuts, switching to orthodox effectively in the closing stages.

PARKER V GRAIDIA: ROUND 1 - PARKER CONTROLS OPENER

He can switch-hit but he focused in this round on boxing as a southpaw, mostly landing with the right jab.

2022: SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS UP NEXT

Zach Parker (22-1, 16 KOs) fights France's Khalid Graidia (12-14-4). Parker weighed in at 12st 3lbs, so officially it is a catchweight fight.

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BARNEY-SMITH WINS POINTS DECISION

The referee scored the fight 60-52. Barney-Smith moves to 7-0 (3 KOs)

BARNEY-SMITH V GOMEZ: END OF BOUT: A SHUTOUT FOR BARNEY-SMITH

Again he showcased his boxing skills, but he may be a little disappointed he did not stop his opponent given how he hurt him in the second and third rounds.

BARNEY-SMITH V GOMEZ: ROUND 5: FIGHT LESS ACTIVE AS GOING ON

Gomez looks to have found a way to get through this fight. Barney-Smith still winning the rounds but only just before the bell did he look to hurt his opponent.

BARNEY-SMITH V GOMEZ: ROUND 4: GOMEZ SHOWING CHARACTER TO HANG IN THERE

Barney-Smith again controlling the fight with his left jab and superior movement, but Gomez forced him backwards at the end of the round showing he may not be as easy as thought to get out of there.

BARNEY SMITH V GOMEZ: ROUND 3: BOLO SHOT DOWNS GOMEZ

You could say Gomez is made to measure but he does look so impressive Sugar Boy Roy. He downed his opponent with a picture perfect straight left uppercut early in the round. He controls the fight with the jab and then pounces on any offensive movement from his opponent.

BARNEY-SMITH V GOMEZ: ROUND 2: GOMEZ TAKES A KNEE

A left uppercut downstairs had Gomez wincing and wanting to take a breather. The straight lefs are also landing more liberally. Don't be surprised if the fight doesn't last until the end of the third.

BARNEY-SMITH V GOMEZ: ROUND 1 - SUGAR BOY DOMINATES OPENER

Controlling the fight with his southpaw right jab and firing in a straight lefts and wicked right hooks to the body.

1940: OUR FIRST CONTEST OF THE NIGHT...

'Sugar Boy' Royston Barney-Smith (6-0, 3 KOs) faces Engel Gomez (8-17-1) in a super-featherweight contest.

1936: JOYCE CAME IN 25 POUNDS HEAVIER

Will this help him? Have a look at their face off. Zhang himself is nine pounds heavier.

Watch: Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce face-off ahead of their epic rematch

Video credit: TNT Sports

1930: WATCH JOE JOYCE V ZHILEI ZHANG ON TNT SPORTS

1924: WE HAVE A STACKED CARD...

Of course headlined by the Joyce-Zhang rematch we have been waiting for. Here are the fights we will follow together tonight, starting in just a few minutes.

1915: HELLO AND WELCOME...

Thanks for joining us for a fantastic night of boxing. I'm Ciaran Baynes and I'll be following the action with you tonight.

Laura is ready, our team are ready. Are you ready?

Follow live round-by-round coverage of Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce

Live comments start at 19:30 UK time

'I'm here to end your career,' Zhang tells Joyce

Zhilei Zhang has vowed to "end" Joe Joyce's career when they meet for a second time on Saturday, September 23 - live on TNT Sports.

The Chinese fighter, an Olympic silver medallist like the Brit, delivered the first defeat of Joyce's professional career in April after the fight was stopped due to the Brit's heavily swollen eye.

Speaking at Thursday's news conference, Zhang told his rival: "Your team going for the rematch is a bigger mistake. I'm here to end your career."

However, Joyce insists he has learned his lessons from the first fight and is already dreaming of a showdown with WBA, IBF and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk next.

"I'm coming back to take back what's mine," Joyce said.

What time does Joyce v Zhang start?

The coverage gets underway at 19:30 UK time, with the main event ringwalks expected to begin at 22:30 UK time.

The undercard features an all-British clash as Anthony Yarde comes up against Ricky Summer.

There will be six fights from 19:30. They are:

How to watch Joyce v Zhang in the UK on TV

Joyce v Zhang can be watched in the UK & Ireland on TNT Sports.

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

What channels does TNT Sports offer and on which platforms?

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

Depending on your subscription and device, fans can enjoy access to the following TNT Sports channels:

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

How do I watch boxing live streams on TNT Sports? What is discovery+?

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

Activate discovery+

The BT Sport app will close on 12 October. TNT Sports subscribers via BT/EE can activate discovery+ at no extra cost to keep streaming.

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

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