GRADES: ZHILEI ZHANG, JOE JOYCE, MIKAELA MAYER, MOSES ITAUMA & MORE

By: Jay Calderon

Well, we didn't have as many cards as normal, but we had a couple of interesting results with a massive upset at the top of the list.

In London, at the Copper Box Arena, Heavyweight Zhilei Zhang stopped previously-unbeaten Joe Joyce. Also on the card, former Jr. Lightweight titlist Mikaela Mayer made her formal debut at 135 pounds, and Denzel Bentley got back to winning ways.

So, without much more rambling, let's hand out these Grades:

ZHILEI ZHANG: A+
RESULT: DEF. JOE JOYCE, 6TKO (HEAVYWEIGHT)

With total honesty, I expected Joe Joyce to get the job done against Zhilei Zhang. I thought it would be tough, but I ultimately believed the stamina of Joyce would allow for him to pull it off down the stretch.

That might have proven true if Joyce's face held up to the punishment. We'll never know.

That's because Zhang had a brilliant game plan of putting just enough pop into his left hand that he could bust Joyce up. Even more than attempting to knock out the iron-chinned big man, Zhang was just accurate and punishing.

The brilliance of the plan was also that Zhang looked so comfortable, so relaxed, he probably could have continued pretty deep into the fight.

Considering the odds (Joyce was an 11-1 favorite, which, you know, seems dumb as hell in hindsight), and the ability mixed with tactics Zhang exhibited to get the job done, it's hard to give him anything but a perfect grade.

JOE JOYCE: D+
RSSULT: LOSS TO ZHILEI ZHANG, 6TKO (HEAVYWEIGHT)

Prior to his bout with Zhilei Zhang, Joe Joyce put his own spin on a famous Mike Tyson quote, stating: "Everyone has a plan until they punch me in the face and nothing happens".

Well, he got punched in the fact a lot...and something happened.

True, Joyce's chin held up to most of what Zhang landed. However, what so many fail to realize is there is more than one way to skin a cat (though, why are you skinning cats?) and there's more than one way to get a stoppage.

If you don't move your head, don't respect the shots coming in and eat left hands all night by a massive dude 20-some pounds heavier, you're leaving yourself open to a number of ways to be stopped.

You might end the fight on your feat, but you won't be getting your hand raised. Now, Joyce needs a new plan himself other than blocking shots with his orbital bone.

MIKAELA MAYER: B-
RESULT: DEF. LUCY WILDHEART (10UD (LIGHTWEIGHT)

It's tricky to hand out a grade in a fight when someone, in this case Mikaela Mayer, is facing a very late replacement.

On the one hand, Mayer did just about everything right on the night. While Wildheart made Mayer earn every point, Mayer did well to do just that and earned a wide decision in the process.

Now, with a debut at 135 pounds out of the way, Mayer is looking to move. Towards an inevitable showdown with Lightweight queen Amanda Serrano.

DENZEL BENTLEY: B+
RESULT: DEF. KIERAN SMITH, 1KO (MIDDLEWEIGHT)

I'm going to keep this short and sweet (much like Denzel Bentley in this bout). If you come out and blow someone away in under a minute, there's very little room to critique.

The only reason the grade isn't higher is the level of opposition. With all due respect to Smith, Bentley is clearly a cut above. Still, a damn fun performance.

SAM NOAKES:
RESULT: DEF. KARTHIK KUMAR, 2TKO (LIGHTWEIGHT)

In some ways, another stoppage win for Sam Noakes is about as good as you can expect against the limited opposition. Karthik Kumar is not supposed to give Noakes much in the way of adversity.

Now, 11-0 as a professional, Noakes keeps his streak of stopping every opponent alive and well. However, he's also still lacking in rounds.

For perspective: Noakes averages 3.3 rounds per fight...and this fight was 1.4 rounds.

Point being that Noakes needs to start being pushed for his own good. You don't want to find out about a stamina issue later in Naokes' career when he's facing someone that might be able to make him pay for it.

MOSES ITAUMA: B
RESULT: DEF. KOSTIANTYN DOVBYSHCHENKO, 6POINTS (HEAVYWEIGHT)

All things considered, Moses Itauma going six full rounds for the first time in his young career is invaluable.

The hard-hitting 18-year-old has made easy work of his first couple of opponents, taking less than a single minute combined in first two fights. If nothing else, Itauma knows he's able to get a bit deeper in fights if needed.

It wasn't the most dynamic performance, but Itauma picked up the relatively easy win, and Itauma can improve from there.

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