Fast Results from London where ‘Big Bang’ Upset ‘The Juggernaut’

In a battle between two six-foot-six former Olympians in their late-30s, Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang, an 8/1 underdog in man-to-man betting, turned away previously undefeated Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce, winning by TKO in the sixth round when referee Howard Foster waived it off on the advice of the ringside physician. Framed for the WBO interim heavyweight title, the bout at London’s Copper Box Arena aired in the US on ESPN+.

Joyce, who had stopped 14 of his previous 15 opponents, was the busier fighter. He was credited with landing 106 more punches. But Zhang, a southpaw who trains in Paterson, New Jersey, landed punches that were more damaging. Joyce was bleeding from the mouth after the first frame, had a bloody nose after round two, and his right eye had swollen shut when the bout was terminated at the 1:34 mark of round six.

Zhang, who had a 22-pound weight advantage (278 vs. 256) but a roll of flab around his midsection, had knocked out 19 of his previous opponents while building a 24-1-1 record. He was coming off a narrow loss to Filip Hrgovic in a 12-round contest at Saudi Arabia. Tonight in London, at the advanced age of 39, he went where no Chinese heavyweight had ever gone before, putting himself at the doorstep of a world title opportunity.

Co-Feature

In a match billed for the WBC interim lightweight title, Mikaela Mayer rebounded from the first loss of her career with a unanimous decision over hard-trying Lucy Wildheart who took the fight on 24-hours notice, replacing  former two-time 140-pound titlist Christina Linardatou who failed her medical exam for reasons that were not disclosed.

Mayer was credited with landing 105 more punches, but Wildheart, a native of Sweden who has taken up residence in the UK, had several good moments when she found a home for her overhand right. She was 10-1 entering the fray and had won five straight against soft opposition after suffering her lone defeat in a 10-round contest with former Olympic gold medalist Estelle Mossely.

The judges had it 100-90, 98-91, and 98-92. The 32-year-old Mayer, a former 130-pound title-holder competing at her more natural weight, improved to 18-1 (5). Down the road she welcomes a rematch with Alycia Baumgardner or a bout with Irish megastar Katie Taylor who Mikaela has been chasing since her amateur days.

Other Bouts of Note

In a lightweight match slated for 12, Sam Noakes stopped India import Karthik Sathish Sumar in the second round. Noakes, who advanced to 11-0, has won all of his pro fights by stoppage. A roofer by trade, Noakes hails from Maidstone, County Kent, and has been called The Maidstone Golovkin. It was the first pro loss for Kumar (10-1) who was stepping up in class in his UK debut.

BBBofC middleweight champion Denzel Bentley (18-2-1, 15 KOs) needed only 45 seconds to eliminate Scotland’s Kieran “Chopper” Smith (18-2). A 28-year-old Londoner of Ghanian extraction, Bentley was coming off a 12-round setback to newly ordained WBO title-holder Janibek Alimkhanuly.

Photo compliments of Queensberry Promotions via Evan Korn

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