JOE JOYCE’S big comeback ended with a knockout as he avoided a massive disappointment.

After punishing back-to-back losses to Zhilei Zhang, the 38-year-old Putney man returned to the ring at a career heaviest of 20st 6lbs.

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Joe Joyce secured a last ditch knockout victory over Kash Ali in BirminghamCredit: Getty

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The Juggernaut’s comeback bout almost ended in disappointmentCredit: Getty
And the 10 rounds he almost completed – before landing a last-gasp knockout of Kash Ali – were a heavy burden on boxing fans.

Ali threw a few wild haymakers in the opener, launched from his boxing boots in Birmingham and landing over in Solihull.

Joyce was far more measured and tried to break his 34-year-old opponent down by switching between his shaved head and body.

Joyce’s chin did get a tickle in the second, when he backed Ali into a corner and he lashed out and clipped him.

Thankfully that counterpunch and a follow-up blow bounced right off the 2016 Olympic silver winner.

Ali was negative and complaining about rabbit punches, making it hard for Joyce to find his rhythm in the first few rounds.

Joyce’s range was still miles off by the third round, the 20st Juggernaut slashed at thin air too many times and made Kash Ali look like Muhammad.

And round four was another worrying sign that Joyce might be in the decline after he was clipped by a right and a left from the unfancied opponent.

The middle rounds dragged on and sucked the atmosphere out of the Birmingham arena.

Thankfully Joyce livened up for the seventh and chased Ali around the ring trying to scythe at him.
Watch Joe Joyce in training for comeback fight after refusing retirement
In the break before the ninth, Ali’s trainer – 44-year-old former pro Richard Towers – said “I could f***ing beat him now but you are p***ing around.”

And it was a very fair assessment.

Ali was hurt in round nine and it looked like it would be stopped as he had run out of ideas, energy and interest.

After another mouthful from Towers in the final break, Ali did hurl a few right hands and a left hook that landed.

But then he was knocked down and out with a few seconds remaining.

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A sluggish Joyce put in a laboured display against fellow Brit AliCredit: Getty

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The former WBO interim champion found the knockout punch with seconds remaining