Heavyweight Joe Joyce says his ‘journey will continue’ after losing to Zhilei Zhang in London

Joe Joyce declared his “journey will continue” after his world-title ambitions were rocked by a shock first career defeat against Zhilei Zhang.

The British heavyweight, 37, suffered a sixth-round technical knockout at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday.

Referee Howard Foster stopped the fight as Joyce struggled with a swollen eye, having suffered repeatedly against the hard hitting of China’s Zhang.

“I’ve had my loss but I’ll be back,” Joyce told BBC Sport.

“The journey will continue.”

Joyce’s swollen eye, inspected twice by the ringside doctor, was hindering his sight by the time Foster called a halt.

But the Londoner said: “I can still see through it, I think it’s just bruised. It’s a formality to go to the hospital now to check it’s not fractured or anything.”

In addition to his undefeated record, Joyce’s defeat has also cost him his WBO interim belt and his status as mandatory challenger for unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO title.

Joyce had made his ring entrance to the theme from sci-fi film The Terminator, but said afterwards: “It looks like I’ve got a terminator eye now. It’s unfortunate but I’ll be back. I thought I was doing well in there.”

Heavy hitter stops the ‘Juggernaut’

Throughout fight week, there was much talk on when Joyce - who had held mandatory challenger status since July 2021 - would get his world-title shot.

Although it was not something Joyce was guilty of himself, many fans and pundits may have overlooked the threat of ‘Big Bang’ Zhang.

Joyce’s relentless approach, which often leaves his defences exposed, has earned him the nickname ‘Juggernaut’.

In previous fights, such as last September’s win over Joseph Parker, Joyce’s much talked about ‘granite chin’ enabled him to shrug off a heavy hit as if it were a gust of wind.

But in east London, Joyce faced arguably his biggest-hitting opponent to date. Zhang, who was 1st 9lb heavier at Friday’s weigh-in, is a considerably bigger puncher than Parker.

A southpaw heavyweight with strong amateur pedigree - winning silver at the 2008 Olympic Games - the 39-year-old’s only loss came on points to Filip Hrgovic in August, in a fight many observers felt he won.

“I couldn’t get away from his straight left. He kept on nailing me in the eye and it swelled up my eye,” Joyce said.

“That’s what happens when you take risks. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way which is it’s annoying. I thought I’d reach a victory here and it’s just disappointing I didn’t.

‘I might have a fight before the rematch’

Referee Howard Foster waves off the fight between Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang

Joyce was twice seen by the ringside doctor before the fight was called off in the sixth

Zhang has catapulted himself into world-title contention and is now the WBO’s number one challenger for Ukraine’s Usyk.

The sanctioning bodies have a rotation policy for mandatory defences, meaning Usyk must first defend against WBA mandatory Daniel Dubois, with IBF number one Hrgovic second in line.

Joyce’s promoter George Warren confirmed there is a rematch clause with Zhang. Much will depend on the extent of the Putney fighter’s eye injury, but there is sufficient time for Joyce to avenge his loss and reclaim the number one WBO spot before the mandatory is called.

But Joyce is slightly cautious in committing to an immediate rematch.

“We’re going to discuss it,” he said. “I could have one in between. I’m just going to decide. I’m going to have some time off and reflect and watch the tape back and see where I went wrong.”

With a packed heavyweight division, there are other options for Joyce should a world-title shot not materialise.

Fellow Briton Dillian Whyte was in attendance and, before the fight, declared his interest in a domestic match-up.

Joyce has also previously said he would one day like to face two-time world champion and former amateur team-mate Anthony Joshua.

West Ham 2-2 Arsenal: Gunners showing signs of self-doubt as they throw away two-goal lead again

“We have to remember we are still top of the league with everything in our own hands.”

While some Arsenal fans will be despondent and some pundits will write off their hopes of becoming Premier League champions after twice throwing away two-goal leads in a week, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard is staying positive.

Everything looked rosy for Arsenal after only 10 minutes of their game on Sunday at London Stadium against a struggling West Ham side.

Gabriel Jesus had opened the scoring after only seven minutes, with Odegaard’s volley making it two as the Gunners looked set to restore their six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.

But, just as they did seven days ago at Anfield against Liverpool, 2-0 to the Arsenal early on became 2-2 at full-time.

Said Benrahma’s penalty, after poor play from firstly Thomas Partey and then Gabriel, gave West Ham hope, Gunners forward Bukayo Saka fired his own spot-kick wide and Jarrod Bowen scored an equaliser soon after in a Premier League thriller.

Even Gunners manager Mikel Arteta admitted his side should have secured the three points.

“Very disappointing,” said the Spaniard. “The way we started was superb again, we were in total control, then we lost purpose.

“We gave them hope, conceded a terrible penalty, then credit to them. We got on the rollercoaster where everything is going, corners and throw-ins, and we never got away from that.

“The purpose we needed for the third and fourth goal, I didn’t see it.”

As Odegaard says, Arsenal are still clear at the top, by four points, but reigning champions Manchester City have a game in hand and, with Erling Haaland breaking goalscoring records, Pep Guardiola’s side are looking unstoppable as they chase down a potential fifth title in six seasons.

It is now 10 wins in a row for City in all competitions as they push to win the Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and the long-term target of the Champions League.