DANIEL Dubois and Joe Joyce will contest a trio of domestic belts and a New Year world title opportunity when the most eagerly anticipated heavyweight title fight to land on British shores this year finally explodes in London on Saturday night.
All three British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight championship belts will be on the line, plus the number two spot with the WBO, one of the three world titles currently held by Anthony Joshua.
Whether the victor will indeed face AJ in the New Year, or perhaps get matched-up with Ukrainian WBO number one Oleksander Usyk should the former vacate to make a fight with Tyson Fury, remains a narrative for Sunday morning. Right now, Dubois and Joyce only have eyes for one another.
Two unbeaten records featuring 26 wins, zero losses and 24 knockouts combined, both Londoners pack a real punch. Dubois is the younger, fresher fighter. At 23, he’s a baby in heavyweight boxing after turning his back on a campaign to represent GB at the Olympics to turn pro early.
Joyce on the other hand chased his amateur aspirations only to be robbed by a terrible decision in the heavyweight final at Rio 2016, having to settle for a frustrating silver medal. Now aged 35 the clock is ticking on his professional ambitions.
The fight feels like a must win for Joyce. Although, Dubois is promising he won’t take a backwards step either.
“I’ve got the youth, the speed, and the energy to push on further than he can. I didn’t want to wait for this fight,” Dubois tells Unibet. “Whatever he brings I’m going to hit him twice as hard and push him back. I have to break him.”
Despite having five more pro wins than Joyce, the 23-year-old’s record isn’t as impressive as his rival. But what Dubois has shown us already is that whatever opponent he catches clean, he destroys.
Whether that power will be enough to end the unbeaten run of the ‘Juggernaut’, however, likely holds the key to victory. Joyce may look cumbersome at times in the ring, but his relentless cardio and iron jaw make him a formidable opponent for any man in the glamour division.
Unlike Dubois, his 11-fight record is littered with former world title contenders and even a former world champion, Bermane Stiverne, who he stopped in six rounds last year. We’ve also seen Joyce come through adversity in the ring as a pro. He was wobbled by Bryant Jennings last year but recovered to win a convincing points decision.
Joyce said: “I’m the underdog, apparently, so all the pressure is on him. I’ve achieved more as an amateur and a pro. I’ve seen him knock out some guys, but I’d have knocked those guys out too. I have power in both hands, and I’ll keep punching him until he stays down!”
A notorious slow starter, Dubois will likely jump on Joyce early in an attempt to catch him cold and clock up another sensational KO victory. But, if Joyce’s chin holds up to the test and he manages to get through the first nine minutes (three rounds), expect the pace to shift.
Dubois will remain strong for the first half of the fight, but if Joyce is still able to push forward and drive the pace the whole momentum of the fight could shift once again.
Latest bout odds: Dubois (1/4) Draw (25/1) Joyce (29/10)
Tips: Dubois to win in Rounds 4-6 (3/1), or Joyce to win in Rounds 10-12 (33/1)
Watch Nick Peet and Adam Catterall's full fight preview exclusive to Unibet.
