Joe Joyce says he’s not done in boxing after a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang today, giving Zhang his full credit and saying he’ll rebuild and come back strong.
“Zhang is a great fighter, and he’s a great southpaw,” Joyce said. “He’s a fellow (Olympic) silver medalist, and he’s probably avoided by most. It was probably a bit too far of a risk.
“I’m not used to fighting southpaws, I hadn’t fought a southpaw for a long time. But he’s a great fighter and he’s avoided for a reason.
“It’s just disappointing, because I got myself into the position I was, and it obviously a risk too far, and I paid the price.”
Joyce (15-2, 14 KO) had more to s ay:
On his approach in the rematch
“I was a bit more concentrated on what he was throwing and (trying to warm) into the fight, doing what I’d been practicing. But he’s a difficult fighter. It’s just a risk too far. Maybe I could have gone another route, but I decided to take the challenge and I paid the price.
“But this is not it for me. There’s plenty more. I’ve got plenty more in the tank. You should see me again out there. I don’t know, I’m just going to have to have a bit of time off, reflect, watch the fight back, and come back new and improved.”