Joe Joyce's hopes of winning the world title are in ruins after a shock loss to Zhilei Zhili as Brit cannot see through swollen, horrified eye

JOE JOYCE’S world title dreams were shut down with his battered right eye by Zhilei Zhang in a bloody shock.

The 37-year-old Putney ace just needed to come through the 39-year-old Chinese southpaw to secure a summer showdown with ringside Dillian Whyte, before finally securing a world title shot in the winter.

But he made a typically terrible start to the bout, was battered for almost every moment of the six one-sided rounds and had to be pulled out by the referee on advice from the doctor.

The fact he was still standing after the second round was incredible but Joyce’s famously solid chin just meant his eyes were left to absorb all of the punishment.

With Joyce’s mother registered blind, the idea of him suffering serious long-term damage like that was too much to bear for anyone watching, with knowledge of the family.

So there was relief when our Rio 2016 Olympic silver winner was pulled out of the fight – without going out on his shield.

The fallen warrior said: “I am disappointed with my performance, I could not get out of the way of his shots.”

Joyce is an infamously slow starter and he gave his Copper Box fans a trademark fright with a slug of an opener.

Big Bang Zhang landed a huge southpaw right hook and a left hand, that would have felled a tree.

But the freakishly firm Putney powerhouse swallowed the blows and landed a meaty straight right to calm our nerves

The second was a total disaster too.

Zhang landed a violent combination that almost sent Joyce tumbling out of the ring.

The Juggernaut’s nose and right eye were a bloody mess but he used his own corner to save him from a standing count.

The right eye was closing as soon as the third started, making it even harder to spot Zhang’s giant left hands coming over the top.

Every counter left hand from the 2008 silver medalist seemed to buzz the Brit, his nose was streaming and his right eye was shutting into a slit.

The Englishman had lost a stone since his last fight, in September and looked toned, but he was being bullied by the 19-stone visitor.

It took four rounds for Joyce to have any success at all and even then Zhang snatched control of the round back with more bullet-like left hands that were smashing Joyce’s blood, spit and sweat all over Stratford. It was horrible to watch.

By the fifth Joyce’s right eye was gone, he was blinded and it was costing him his accuracy and balance, as well as his sight.

Zhang’s team were even telling him to target the purple peeper and it seemed certain the fight would get stopped soon based on the threat to Joyce’s long-term vision, unless he pulled off a miracle.

The ringside doctor gave it a thorough check – sparking a premature celebratory dance from Zhang – but he let the sixth start.

The doctor was called up to the apron again to assess the threat to Joyce’s future health and referee Howard Foster was rightly told to wave it off.

A crestfallen Joyce told fans in attendance at The Copperbox Arena: “I apologise to all the fans who came out, I am sorry to disappoint everyone.”