Joe Joyce promises punch-fest against Zhilei Zhang
Joe Joyce has pledged to show some powerful punching when he takes on Zhilei Zhang in April.
Joe Joyce has teased an explosive fight against Zhilei Zhang.
The British heavyweight contender will take on the experienced Chinese fighter at London's Copper Box arena on April 15 and is expecting "carnage" as he bids to move closer to his world title dream.
Joyce said: "It will be carnage in the centre of the ring!
"I have lost my temper a few times in sparring and once was against a come-forward southpaw who was trying to knock me out. It was an exciting spar.
"I think with me and Zhang there will be real heavy punches exchanged and I am sure it will be a good fight."
Joyce is the frontrunner to face the winner of the undisputed bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and think that the clash with southpaw Zhang will serve as good preparation.
He said: "It will be a good preparation for Usyk or Fury, plus I haven't fought a southpaw since I won the Commonwealth title against Lenroy Thomas."
However, Joyce is not expecting an easy fight after Zhang suffered a harsh points defeat in his last fight against Filip Hrgovic.
The boxer said: "He had a tough fight against Hrgovic. But I thought he won the fight.
"Zhang is a big, strong southpaw who is massive and he has been to the Olympics and all that. So, he has the experience and I think it will be a great fight.
"He bangs so I will have to watch out for it. As Hrgovic and I have a similar style, they had a great fight, so when we fight it should be entertaining."
