Joe Joyce has commented on Daniel Dubois’ rise to the top of the heavyweight division two years on from defeating the young fighter.
Joyce and Dubois met during lockdown at Church House, Westminster. ‘The Juggernaut’ proved anybody who thought it was a 50/50 fight wrong by busting up Dubois until he retired in the tenth round with a fractured eye socket.
Since then, Joyce – the older of the two by twelve years – has had some impressive wins and found himself in the good position of being WBO Interim Champion.
Dubois hasn’t done bad for himself either, even despite the defeat. Victories over Bogdan Dinu, Joe Cusumano, and Trevor Bryan have, quite favourably, made him the WBA Regular World Champion – and he’s just been called to face the Super champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
His latest outing against Kevin Lerena ended in a third round knockout, but the result on paper doesn’t tell the full story. The London-born fighter was down three times in the first round and lucky to make the bell.
Joyce was in attendance, and gave SecondsOut his thoughts on the contest and the subsequent Usyk order. The iron-chinned fighter was shocked, and laughed as he recalled the Lerena fight.
“He hasn’t got the experience and now all of a sudden, he’s got the WBA [regular] but he hasn’t picked up that experience. He’s boxing outside, he probably hasn’t warmed up properly and he’s done his knee and he looked terrible. I was at the top of the stadium, went to go and get something to eat and drink.”
“We had to rush back, I thought ‘oh my god, he’s got f****ing chinned’ three counts in the first round what is going on? That would have been embarrassing if he got knocked out by him … And he’s still getting a shot at the title, must be something going on.”
Fans won’t blame Joyce for questioning ‘Dynamite’ Dubois’ place in the queue given that he himself is behind him for a world title shot despite just coming off a career-best victory over former-champion, Joseph Parker.
Still, it looks like neither man will be facing one of the champions – Usyk or Tyson Fury – next, as they are tied up in negotiations for an undisputed fight.
When the time comes for mandatories to be fought, Dubois is closely followed by Joyce in the order, with Filip Hrgovic thrown in there too.