Joe Joyce has suggested he will not activate his rematch clause, leaving Zhilei Zhang free to pursue a potential fight with Tyson Fury.
‘The Juggernaut’ suffered the first defeat of his career when he was stopped inside six rounds by Zhang at the Copperbox Arena in London on Saturday night.
Despite being a considerable favourite, Joyce was beaten up from the first bell by the Chinese heavyweight who visibly wobbled him on more than one occasion during the fight.
The Englishman’s eye started to shut early on and referee Howard Foster ultimately waved off the contest in round six as Joyce continued to eat big shots in the affected area.
Post-fight, it was revealed that the 37-year-old has a rematch clause and could get the chance to avenge his first career defeat later this year but he suggests a comeback fight may happen first.
Joyce told BBC Sport: “We’re going to discuss it. I could have one in between. I’m just going to decide. I’m going to have some time off and reflect and watch the tape back and see where I went wrong.”
“I’ve had my loss, but I’ll be back. The journey will continue. I can still see through [the eye], I think it’s just bruised. It’s a formality to go to the hospital now to check it’s not fractured or anything.
“It looks like I’ve got a Terminator eye now. It’s unfortunate but I’ll be back. I thought I was doing well in there. I couldn’t get away from his straight left. He kept on nailing me in the eye and it swelled up my eye.”
Zhang picked up his career-best win and bounced back from a controversial decision defeat against Filip Hrgovic last time out.
The 39-year-old is now hoping to secure a title shot against ‘The Gypsy King’ who is currently looking for an opponent after talks for an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk fell through.
Zhang told IFL TV: “I’m very excited and happy today.
“Since I hurt him with the first couple of shots in the first round, I know he can’t make it. That’s why I was in London, to take it [WBO interim heavyweight title] away from him.
“This is the beginning. I’m going for the title. If my team says that, let’s do that. I can go either way… Tyson Fury doesn’t have that chin, he will go down.”
