Joe Joyce forces Daniel Dubois to bow out of the fight!
Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce has been highly anticipated for over a year. Originally scheduled to take place on April 11, the bout was moved twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK is known to have their top fighters meet which signifies to the winner he/she is ready for the world level. At heavyweight, Dubois and Joyce are the two top contenders looking to break out on the world stage!
Realistically given the rankings, even the loser will still be considered ready for world level. Dubois is currently ranked #2 and #7 by the WBO and WBC. He also holds the WBC Silver and WBO International minor titles. Joyce is ranked #13 by the IBF and #11 by both the WBO and WBC. Therefore, this fight is really about “who will be the next UK heavyweight to get a title shot?”
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TAKE A COUPLE TO LAND A FEW
The jab was a major component of this fight. Joyce did what many thought he would do from the opening round. He came out behind his jab and kept it in the face of Dubois. This forced the minor champion to be on his back-foot, looking for a way to get closer to his bigger foe.
It was evident early that Dubois was never taught to move his head. Although he landed many more of the bigger shots, Joyce’s jab was nearly 100% effective and was the telling point of the fight.
Regardless, Dubois was determined to make the bigger man feel his presence. He was willing to take a jab or two which started to swell his left eye as early as the second round just to see the head of his opponent flopping from side to side. Joyce, also known for his cement feet and molasses-like slowness, could not get out of the way whenever Dubois rushed in. The result was being the recipient of several big shots.
The exchanges showed Joyce had a magnificent chin as the shots his opponent landed had flat-lined fourteen other opponents. All he could do was weather the storm then go back to throwing the stiff jab that would always back his foe up.
THAT DAMN JAB & THAT DAMN CHIN!
If someone decided to tune into this fight starting in the second half, they would automatically think Dubois was getting dominated due to the damage on his face. By this point, he was sporting blood from his mouth and a nearly closed left eye.
Although looks can be deceiving! Most of what Joyce could land all night was that big jab and maybe a right hand or two setup behind it. The power he possesses behind that punch, the number of times he landed it and the lack of head movement of his opponent played a part in the artwork displayed on Dubois’ face.
Nonetheless, it was still Dubois who was in control of the fight from landing the more telling blows. Each time the smaller fighter went in for the kill, landing two, three and four big shots, Joyce would shake them off and keep pumping that stiff jab on the damaged left eye.
Then in round ten, both men exchanged jabs but Joyce’s reach advantage allowed his to land first. With his eye looking as if he had tucked a golf ball under his eyelid, Dubois absorbed the shot directly on the eye. He took a step back, pawed at his eye, then took a knee.
The referee administered the count but Dubois had a debilitated look on his face. It was clear he did not want to get back up even though he could and should have. As the referee reached ten and waived the fight off, he rose to his feet and immediately walked to his corner motioning to his left eye.
Truth be told, if Dubois had just a little head movement to avoid taking so many jabs, he could have won this bout pretty handily.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR BIG JOE
This win will most definitely move Joyce up a few notches in the rankings. Furthermore, the prospect of a rematch is still something many fans would like to see. However, the big man had one name in mind when asked who he wanted next!
“Usyk! I’m ready for you Usyk!”
Hardcore boxing fans will remember former undisputed cruiserweight champion turned heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk defeated Joyce in the World Series of Boxing tournament back in March 2013. He wants nothing more than a rematch with the undefeated Ukranian.
However, with Usyk sitting in the #1 spot by the WBO and in line to face the winner of Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev for a shot at three titles, Joyce may have to wait.
By: EJ Williams
