sport news Joe Joyce's next opponent is CONFIRMED with the Brit set to take on Chinese ... trends now

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Joe Joyce will defend his WBO Interim World Heavyweight title for the first time when he takes on Chinese fighter Zhilei Zhang in April at the Copper Box Arena.

Joyce was last in action when he beat Joseph Parker in thrilling fashion in September last year with the 37-year-old now possessing a 15-0 (14 KOs) record. 

But 6ft 6ins Zhang will not be an easy opponent on April 15, with the Chinese fighter suffering his first defeat of his career in August when he lost to the Croatian Filip Hrgovic by ruling of the judges' scorecards - despite many believing he had won the fight. 

It will be his first professional visit to London for the 39-year-old southpaw, who is known as 'Big Bang' Zhang and has an impressive fight record of 24-1-1 (19 KOs) and Joyce was excited to have his opponent confirmed.

'It is a great fight,' the Brit said. 'He had a tough fight against Hrgovic but I thought he won it.