Joe Joyce WAS the talk of the tower when he took center stage at the HQ of Talksport on Thursday to launch the build-up for his high-stakes rematch with Zhilei Zhang at the OVO Arena, Wembley on 23 September, live on TNT Sports.
The ‘Big Juggernaut’ will be attempting to take back the WBO Interim world heavyweight title he surrendered to ‘Big Bang Zhang’ back in March when a severe swelling to his right eye rendered him unable to continue in the view of referee Howard Foster.
Hence the return match being tagged ‘An eye for an eye’.
Joyce, 37, teamed up with his Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren at the colossal News Building on London Bridge Street in SE1, where the wheels for the Wembley heavyweight spectacular were set in motion.
“I’ve had time to rebuild, relax, let my hair down a little and reflect on what went down and what I need to do to get back on the horse and ride into the sunset!” said Joyce, who now holds a record of 15-1 (14 KOs) up against that of Zhang, 25-1-1 (20).
“It is back to the drawing board and little improvements on things, nitpicking on bits I need to get right for this next camp coming. I think, watching it back and seeing the shots thrown and landed and stuff, it was terrible for me to experience that, but it is all a learning curve.
“I have taken losses in the amateurs and came back and won a silver medal – if not, the gold – and I can do it again in the pros. I’ve got the experience and the drive.
“I don’t want to take the long route to get back for the title, all I’ve got to do is beat him and I am back in line for a mandatory shot.
“That is important to me and I want to be a world champion and I want to deliver on my dreams, goals and aspirations. That is why I am here.
“I want to be in big fights and this is a massive fight. You think fights are going to happen and they don’t, but this fight is definitely going to happen.”