Zhilei Zhang v Joe Joyce 2 Tips from Rob Tebbutt

Our resident boxing expert Rob Tebbutt looks ahead to this weekend's hotly-anticipated heavyweight showdown between Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce and reveals where he feels the betting value can be found.

Zhilei Zhang (4/5) v Joe Joyce (1/1) Tips

So, in the main event at Wembley Arena on Saturday night, will it be a case of repeat or revenge as Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang lock horns for the second time this year?

We're just a couple of months on from their pulsating first bout in which Zhilei Zhang really flipped the script and stopped Joe Joyce in the sixth round, causing really significant damage to the eye of the 'Juggernaut' before the referee intervened and waved off the fight.

This time around though, who is going to emerge victorious with the win?

I think this is very much a 50/50 fight, and I thought that Zhang was very live in the first fight and I expected Joyce to have to walk through the fire early on if he was to get the win, but he wasn't able to do so.

This time, Zhilei Zhang is much, much shorter with the bookmakers unable to split the pair!

For me, it is between one or two things - can Zhang get the job done early doors again or can Joyce weather that storm and put the pressure on during the second half of the fight?

We have seen 'Big Bang' struggle during the second half of fights with his stamina in the past, and we know that Joe Joyce can last the pace across 12 full three-minute rounds.

But the question is can his eye ands can his chin stand-up to Zhang and that southpaw left-hand, if it can't then you can get a massive 11/2 on Zhang to win the fight in the same manner as last time, within the first six rounds!

If Joe Joyce can get through those first six rounds and take it into the second half of the fight then you can get 9/2 on him winning the bout between Rounds 7 - 12. 

We did see Zhang just start to slow down back in April, but that was on the back of landing a series of hellacious shots on Joe Joyce which had already done the damage.

If you are looking for a shorter odds play then I think there is plenty of value to be found in the 8/13 price for the fight to not last the full distance.

Tebbutt's Tip

This is a little bit of a cop-out this week, because I really can't split them, but I am going to have to go with Zhilei Zhang to get the job done again between 'Rounds 1 - 6' at 11/2, but I will also be having a little bit of money on the fight not lasting the distance at that short-odds price of 8/13.

Zhilei Zhang to win between 'Rounds 1 - 6' @ 11/2
Fight to Go the Distance - No @ 8/13

View the latest Zhilei Zhang v Joe Joyce 2 odds

All odds displayed within this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
 

Rob Tebbutt

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