A heavyweight clash that can shape the next few months of the division takes place on April 15. Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang battle for the interim WBO heavyweight title.
The fight will be inside the Copper Box Arena in London and airs on ESPN+ in the U.S. and BT Sport in the U.K.
A 2016 Olympic silver medalist, Joyce turned pro in 2017 and has beaten the likes of Bermane Stiverne, Daniel Dubois, Carlos Takam, and Christian Hammer. Winning local gold, the Brit beat Dubois in 2020 for the British, Commonwealth, and European heavyweight titles. The 37-year-old beat former champion Joseph Parker in September 2022 to win the interim WBO belt.
With 14 of his 15 wins coming via knockout, Joyce can make a statement with a win against Zhang. His team believes that will be the case in front of family and friends.
MORE: Sign up to watch Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang, exclusively on ESPN+
“I don’t see Zhang going down, he’s so strong, but I think maybe Joyce will overrun him with endurance and stamina and just batter him into submission before some crazy knockout,” Joyce’s sparring partner Alen Babic told talkSPORT.
Zhang won silver in the 2008 Olympics and turned pro in 2014. “Big Bang” has won 24 fights, 19 of them via knockout. His last bout was a unanimous decision loss against Filip Hrgovic in August 2022, a result that many have questioned. The 39-year-old is ready to rebound and flip the script against a determined Joyce.
Here is all you need to know ahead of Joyce vs. Zhang, from time, channel, odds, card, and more.
When is Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang?
- Date: Saturday, April 15 | Sunday, April 16
- Start time: 2 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. GMT | 5 a.m. AEDT
- Main event: 5:30 p.m. ET | 9:30 p.m. GMT | 8:30 a.m. AEDT (approx.)
Joyce vs. Zhang takes place on April 15. The main card starts at 2 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. GMT | 5 a.m. AEDT. The main event fighters should make their way to the ring around 5:30 p.m. ET | 9:30 p.m. GMT | 8:30 a.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
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How to watch Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. April 15 | ESPN+ |
| United Kingdom | Sat. April 15 | BT Sport |
| Australia | Sun. April 16 | Main Event on Kayo |
In The U.S., Joyce vs. Zhang will air on ESPN+.
In the U.K., the fight will air on BT Sport.
Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang price: How much does the card cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
MORE: Sign up to watch Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang, exclusively on ESPN+
Where is Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang?
Joyce vs. Zhang will be inside the Copper Box Arena in London, England. The arena can hold up to 7,000+ people.
Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang betting odds
Per Bet MGM, Joe Joyce is the -900 favorite, while Zhilei Zhang is the +550 underdog.
In Canada, per Sports Interaction, Joe Joyce is the -913 favorite, while Zhilei Zhang is the +501 underdog.
MORE: How to bet on combat sports
Joe Joyce record, bio
- Nationality: British
- Born: September 19, 1985
- Height: 6-6
- Reach: 80.5 inches
- Total fights: 15
- Record: 15-0 with 14 wins via knockout
Zhilei Zhang record, bio
- Nationality: Chinese
- Born: May 2, 1983
- Height: 6’-6
- Reach: 78 inches
- Total fights: 26
- Record: 24-1-1 with 19 wins via knockout
Joe Joyce vs. Zhilei Zhang fight card
- Joe Joyce (c) vs. Zhilei Zhang for the interim WBO heavyweight title
- Mikaela Mayer vs. Christina Linardatou; Lightweights
- Denzel Bentley vs. Kieran Smith; Middleweights
- Sam Noakes vs. Karthik Kumar; Lightweights