Joe Joyce has weighed in with a prediction for a potential world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
After the collapse in talks for an undisputed clash between Usyk and Tyson Fury, WBA regular champion Dubois is next in line for a shot at the Ukrainian, with negotiations reportedly underway for a summer showdown in the United Kingdom.
Speaking to IFL TV, Joyce was dismissive of his countryman’s chances, stating he thinks Usyk will actually end up stopping ‘DDD’ should the pair meet in the ring.
“Oleksandr Usyk is going to dance rings around him [Dubois], he’s not going to be able to hit him. I believe he [Usyk] gets him out of there.”
Having shared the ring with both men, there are arguably few better placed in the sport to break down the fight than ‘The Juggernaut.’
He defeated Dubois for the British heavyweight title back in 2020, and came up short against Usyk in the World Series of Boxing in the amateur ranks.
Now the WBO Interim belt holder, Joyce will hope he is not far behind his former opponent at getting a shot at Usyk and an opportunity to avenge that defeat from all those years ago.
However he must first come through heavy handed Chinese southpaw, Zhilei Zhang, at the Copper Box Arena in London this weekend.
Like Joyce, Zhang is an Olympic silver medalist and will have every confidence he can spoil the Brit’s plans and put himself right in the frame for a world title shot.
‘Big Bang’ lost a controversial decision to Filip Hrgovic on the Usyk-Anthony Joshua 2 undercard last year, and will be fully determined to right that wrong on Saturday night.