Joyce v Zhang predictions and boxing betting tips: Joyce can grind his way to victory

Where to watch Joyce v Zhang

BT Sport 1, 10pm approximately, Saturday

Best bets

Joyce to win in rounds seven to 12
1pt 6-4 Coral, Ladbrokes 

Joyce v Zhang odds 

Joe Joyce 1-9
Zhilei Zhang 6-1
Draw 25-1

Joyce v Zhang predictions

Joe Joyce returns to the ring on Saturday to face Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Joyce is looking to engineer a world title shot and will probably feel he already deserves one, as he has a KO win over Oleksandr Usyk’s likely next opponent Daniel Dubois on his CV, and a convincing win over China’s ‘Big Bang’ should boost his chances further.

Zhang has never been stopped and has lost only once, but Juggernaut can be the first man to record an early finish win over the 39-year-old this weekend. Both fighters have similar styles as they like to come forward and put pressure on opponents, but Joyce has more power with 14 of his 15 wins coming via stoppages and that should prove the difference if both men stick to their usual gameplans.

Joyce doesn’t boast huge one punch knockout power and his wins tend to come after wearing his opponents down. Zhang is clearly a tough competitor - having gone the distance with a big puncher in Filip Hrogovic before losing on points - so backing Joyce to win in rounds seven to 12 looks a good option.

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport