Zhilei Zhang dominates, stops Joe Joyce in upset sixth-round TKO

All hail Zhang.

Zhilei Zhang honed in at a shot at Oleksandr Usyk's WBO world heavyweight titles after stopping previously unbeaten Joe Joyce Copper Box Arena, in east London.

Zhang, who turns 40 on May 2, may have to wait a while. Daniel Dubios will get a taste of the championship wine as the WBA mandatory challenger—barring complications from his recent injury—and the lead IBF contender Filip Hrgovic, who controversially outpointed Zhang last August, is next.

"Today belongs to me," Zhang said. "I'm 39 years old but I train hard, and next step I'm going for the title."

Zhang (25-1-1, 20 KOs), a native of China based in New Jersey, damaged the 37-year-old Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs) with a sustained series of left hands that caused his right eye to swell shut.

Joyce, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist who is typically a slow starter, never recovered.

"I'm disappointed with the performance," Joyce said. "I haven't fought a southpaw for so long, I think I could do better. I kept getting hit with his left hand, but I will be back, my journey is not over."

According to Compubox, Zhang landed 82 of 180 punches (46%), while Joyce landed just 85 of 464 blows (18%).