It's been a long, hard journey, but Joyce is getting ever closer to the mountain top

JOE JOYCE is having to do this the hard way, forced into another lung-bursting effort while the heavyweight division works around the failure of Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury to meet each other

- BARRY McGUIGAN

Joyce is the mandatory challenger for the WBO belt, one of three held by Usyk. Tonight he faces Chinese giant Zhang Zhilei, who at 6ft 6in is able to look Joyce in the eye.

It is one hell of a fight, a challenge for Joyce more akin to swimming the Channel than treading water. Zhilei dropped a close decision to Filip Hrgovic and gave him nightmares doing so. On at least three occasions Hrgovic looked on the point of quitting. No wonder. Zhilei is a tough, awkward southpaw with quick hands. 

Joyce has had to be incredibly patient around Usyk and Fury. He's been mucked around and treated badly by the governing bodies.