The man from China stunned Hrgovic with a knockdown in the first, but the pair slugged it out over the twelve round distance and he ultimately lost via unanimous decision. Many pundits and fans had Zhang as the winner. He has watched the fight back, but not for the purpose of scoring – ‘that’s history’ he says.
And if Zhang won a fight against Joshua in front of more than 90,000 fans in Beijing, to become the country’s first ever world heavyweight champion, the outlook on the sport in China would change forever.
“I want to fight all the best fighters of this era,” he said . “I want to fight everyone, starting with guys like (Martin) Bakole or (Joe) Joyce, or Frank Sanchez, and then Joshua, Wilder, Usyk. I want to fight them all, of course.
boxing welterweight division has become increasingly popular in China in recent years, with several Chinese boxers, especially women, making their mark on the international stage. But while boxing still remains a niche sport for many Chinese, mixed martial arts has managed to break through the public consciousness, with Zhang Weili, the first Chinese UFC world champion, and other fighters increasingly commanding a mainstream following.
Round 1: As is often the case in an orthodox vs southpaw clash, we start with fencing jabs, both men tapping each other’s leads and having a look. Oh, now we’re throwing leather! Joyce gets a left hook through but Zhang thuds home a couple to get the home fighter’s attention. Now a nice left from Zhang and Joyce responds with a lumbering, ineffective right. And again, another solid Zhang left. As we know, there’s nothing wrong with Joyce’s chin but he probably wasn’t planning on having it checked so soon.
For most boxers, a 49-second KO would be the quickest on record. But Tyson made a career of pulverising foes who didn’t belong in the ring with him and the obliteration of Etienne was only the sixth-fastest knockout of his career.
As well as superior experience, two-weight world champion Vargas had a big height advantage that made it difficult for Ball to land head shots early on. But in the third round he made a good job of it when he leapt into shots just to reach Vargas.
Of course tattoos can be copyrighted. I don’t think there is any reasonable dispute about that. They are not copyrighting Mr. Tyson’s face, or restricting Mr. Tyson’s use of his own face, as the defendant argues, or saying that someone who has a tattoo can’t remove the tattoo or change it, but the tattoo itself and the design itself can be copyrighted, and I think it’s entirely consistent with the copyright law.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 26: Former Boxer Mike Tyson looks on prior to the Cruiserweight Title fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arena on February 26, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Beyond its deeper meanings, the facial tattoo has also become a key part of Tyson’s visual identity, making him instantly recognizable and differentiating him from other athletes and celebrities. This tattoo has helped forge his image as a tough, resilient, and singular figure in pop culture, further cemented by its appearances in film, television, and media where Tyson plays either himself or characters inspired by his persona.
Joyce (15-1, 14 KOs), 37, from Putney in southwest London, never recovered after his right eye began to swell and close by the end of the first round from Zhang’s accurate left-hand punches at the Copper Box Arena, in east London.
On his right forearm, Tyson has a dragon tattoo which is easily the most impressive of all his artwork. This is the one tattoo there is little information on, with nobody being sure of the tattoo artist or the actual meaning behind the tattoo. Tyson himself hasn’t discussed the ink but as The Sun detailed, “In Chinese culture, the dragon represents strength, wisdom, and freedom,” so it wouldn’t be a stretch to think Tyson knows this and wanted the tattoo to represent these things. Or maybe he just really likes dragons? We will never know until he comments on the artwork.
The next, somewhat inevitable step is that the face tattoo has finally hit the streets. “Unquestionably, these types of tattoos have become a trend in recent years,” explains literary critic and literature professor Nadal Suau, in a conversation with EL PAÍS. He classifies facial tattoos under the category of “unruly tattoos.” This group also includes ironic tattoos. He also adds what he calls “ugly, dirty or violent” tattoos — such as painting the anus of a cow on your skin — are part of “a bad taste that disobeys the imperative of homogeneous beauty.”
Tyson’s face tattoo is more than just an ink design. It’s a representation of his personal journey and his connection to Maori culture. The tattoo has become a part of his identity and has been a source of inspiration for many people. Tyson has said that the tattoo has given him a sense of pride, and it has helped him to embrace his warrior spirit.