Joe Joyce records shock stoppage defeat over Daniel Dubois in British heavyweight clash
British heavyweight Joe Joyce moved one step closer to a world title shot, with a tenth round stoppage victory over British rival Daniel Dubois in London on Saturday night.
Joyce used his jab to perfection throughout the fight, picking his way through the constant pressure of Dubois who sustained damage to his eye persistently, as a result of the stiff jab.
‘Dynamite’ Dubois then dropped to a knee after another heavy jab on his severely swollen eye in the tenth round, handing Joyce a shock victory after coming into the fight as the underdog.
Joyce raised his arm in victory, while Dubois looked dejected and shellshocked by the demeanour and composure of his opponent, and could not stay in the fight to claim the victory after such a promising start tohis young career.
The fight began with Joyce and Dubois walking out to an empty Westminster Church set-up with attendance limited to just family and trainers, as a result of the behind-closed-doors scenario during the pandemic.
With a quiet opening round, young Dubois decided to explode into life in the second launching an onslaught at Joyce, who remained composed and picked off his jab, despite a series of landed right hands appearing to rock ‘Juggernaut’ into holding on.
Dubois went for the stoppage again in the third landing some heavy combinations, but Joyce stuck to his game plan of accuracy and composure, despite his opponent’s well varied and powerful advances through the third and fourth.
The emergence of swelling was visible for all to see on Dubois’ eye going into the fifth and sixth rounds, due to the constitency and power behind the jab of Joe Joyce, which beginned to hamper the vision and in turn accuracy of the younger fighter Dubois’ power punching combinations.
Then as the fight went into the championship rounds, Dubois could not withstand the jab any more despite being the aggressor throughout large periods of the fight, and dropped to his knee in the tenth after a solid jab from Joyce. This forced referee Ian John Lewis to stop the contest, and hand former Olympic medalist Joe Joyce the all-important victory.
Joyce revealed his delight at his shock victory after the fight: “Respect to Daniel. He’s got some power and he can come again. But with my experience I’ve learned to ride it. I was happy to take it. I’m ready for Oleksandr Usyk.”
