Joyce Put on More Weight LOL It's over

[billeau2]

I'm not really concerned yet about Joyce getting knocked out. As I said, he didn't even get dropped. But he gets hit with a lot of lead shots. Very susceptible to the southpaw cross lead. He doesn't tend to get caught by too much follow-up stuff because he's usually fading away from the rear hand, but that's against orthodox opponents. Against Zhang, it's more of a problem. Check my posts and you'll see that I haven't mentioned those others. Don't try to pin that straw man crap on me. Stick to talking Joyce.

Facts are that he's susceptible to that first punch because he keeps his head in the same channel when he punches. He's susceptible to southpaw followups because he just does a pull and retreat in a straight line along the rear foot. If he circled out after the initial dip out, he'd get hit way less. He doesn't really parry well. And he didn't make adjustments when Zhang was catching him. Top fighters don't keep getting hit by the same punch over and over again until they get stopped. Hopefully he made adjustments in camp, but he's got major defensive issues, and those don't just get corrected after so many years building bad habits. Fortunately, the heavyweight division isn't the most skilled.

In the plus column for him, I don't think Zhang really TKOed him. That was a doctor stoppage. He's tough, and for such a big guy, he has a good gas tank. If he doesn't get stopped in the first 6, chances are he wins the fight due to his late game output and Zhang's poor gas tank.

One thing to be aware of: getting hit by an opponent who is not set, in order to counter is a legitimate strategy. pressure fighters do this often. While you make some great points, considering the division, the level of talent, etc, Joyce's foibles hardly put him at the mercy of more technically skilled fighters, omitting Usyk and Fury.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Looks like Joyce does get hit a lot after all... what were we saying about how his defense is underrated? Zhang has his number, and that's just beyond dispute at this point.

[PRINCEKOOL]

As I have been saying for sometime, actually since Parker fight. I honestly believe not only was that Joyce's best performance as a professional, but the damage he sustain in that fight was underrated 'I think since that fight Joyce has been burnt out'.

Overall his career since leaving team Hayemaker, the match making most of the time has been bad 'Even the Dubois fight could of been made at a different time, and been a mega fight for not fighters.

Zhang vs Joyce I, was a unnecessary fight to take for Joyce 'But the rematch was always going to happen. Because Joyce is that type of fighter, and understood the importance of avenging a loss 'And not trying to get away from that challenge' etc.