The fight was allowed to continue, but with Joyce’s eyesight clearly hindered – and being repeatedly peppered by Zhang’s punches – referee Howard Foster recalled the doctor in round six before deciding to save Joyce from any more, potentially long-lasting, damage.
“This is fascinating because this fight has so many questions. We have no clue what to expect from these two big-punching fighters. I could see any outcome in this fight. Wilder looked awful last time out and maybe he is a shot fighter. Zhang had moments against Joseph Parker but also struggled. It seems if you can get through the early going against Zhang you can outhustle him in the second half of the fight but that’s not Wilder’s style. Both have the power to hurt the other and it’s probably who strikes first. I don’t think this fight goes into the second half with both knowing one mistake could likely spell the end. I think Zhang’s southpaw stance and extra weight could be key. I’ll go without too much conviction for Zhang to catch and stop Wilder in five rounds.”
Parker’s management isn’t going to want to match him against Zhang because they obviously know his limitations and will be hoping to get a big payday fight offered to him against AJ, Francis Ngannous, or his buddy, Tyson Fury.
Tyson’s criminal behavior started at an early age. At the age of 13, he was reportedly arrested 38 times and was sent to a juvenile detention center for commuting various crimes. While in the center, Tyson met a boxing division list coach who introduced him to the sport of boxing. Boxing became a way for Tyson to channel his aggression and anger in a more positive direction. Eventually, he would meet the legendary Cus D’Amato who showed him that boxing could be an escape for him.
Some tā moko artists differed, seeing it not as appropriative of moko but rather a hybrid of several tattoo styles; Rangi Kipa saw no Māori elements at all. The perspective of those like Te Awekotuku highlights the conflict between Māori conception of moko—which reflect a person’s genealogy—as collective property and the Anglo-American view of copyright as belonging to a single person. While Warner Bros. initially said they would investigate whether the tattoo was a derivative of any Māori works, there was no further discussion of the matter prior to the case settling.
“Not so long ago I would have picked Wilder by KO and not thought twice about. But Wilder’s recent performances have me wondering if, like many KO guys, they fade quickly. Wilder looks to be in that fading point of his career. Having said that Zhang is a step down from Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker. Then again, Parker dominated Wilder while Zhang lost to him by majority decision in a close fight. So who wins? Zhang could easily beat Wilder if the latter continues to fade but this is also a crossroads fight for Wilder. He has to understand, one would think, that a fourth loss in his last five fights means an end to him as a legitimate contender and big payday money maker. So I’ll go with the more desperate fighter in Wilder and pick him by TKO. But I’m not doing it with a lot of conviction, to be honest.”
Zhang’s fight with Jerry Forrest was on the undercard of the super-middleweight title fight between Canelo Álvarez and Avni Yıldırım. Although Zhang started strongly, scoring three knockdowns in the opening three rounds, Zhang completely gassed out from the fourth round and Forrest was able to battle his way back to earn a majority draw. The final scorecards read 95–93 Forrest, 93–93, and 93–93, with the irregular scores owing to a point deduction against Zhang for excessive holding. Many fans thought Zhang vs. Forrest was a better fight than the main bout.
This fight is there for Nick Ball. Rey Vargas is tiring and he’s struggling to hold Ball off. And there it is! Ball lands an overhand right and the pair come together in a tangle, and Vargas hits the deck! Is it a knockdown? Yup, it is. The referee administers the count and once again Vargas and his corner are apocalyptic. But I’m not too sure why. It wasn’t a trip, it was a legitimate knockdown.
China’s Zhang, 41, connected with a perfectly timed counter right hook that spun Wilder in a daze. With Wilder defenseless, Zhang (27-2-1, 21 KOs) sprinted in and smashed him with another right hand that planted the American hard on the canvas.
During the revealing and heartbreaking interview, one would assume the once-electrifying athlete hadn’t fully come to terms with the assault. He stated he wasn’t sure if the incident drastically changed him or not, but the memory of that frightening day would stay with him always. “I don’t always remember … maybe I do, but I don’t,” he said, “I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of anything from that perspective.”
Mike Tyson’s legacy goes far beyond his accomplishments in the boxing ring. The Mike Tyson tattoo is a symbol of his unique journey and has become a cultural icon in its own right. With his tattoo, Tyson cemented his place as a pioneer, inspiring countless people to express their true self in a bold and non-apologetic way.