DANIEL DUBOIS ASSESSED the heavyweight landscape and concluded that he is destined to become the leading man of the division when his time comes.

The 24-year-old is ranked at No.1 by the WBA and a shot at the champion Trevor Bryan is set to be called by the governing body. The WBA, of course, also have a ‘super champion’ via unification which is currently Oleksandr Usyk, who is awaiting a rematch with the vanquished Anthony Joshua.

Dubois defeating Bryan would ultimately see him put forward to face the Usyk-Joshua winner, or perhaps an undisputed champion if the belts come together.

Dubois acknowledges there is a lot to play out before any such mystic matchmaking becomes a reality.

“Let’s see in the next couple of fights and where it goes,” reasoned Dubois, who is set to return to the ring in March to begin his assault on world honours. “I want to take one fight at a time. I want to be up there at the top level fighting the best, winning a world title and holding onto it for a good long time. That is my aim and is all I can say.”

On the next destination for three of the belts, Dubois reiterates the thinking that Joshua must enforce his physical advantages to be in with a decent shout of reclaiming his lost property. However, he considers his heavyweight countryman as a winner whatever direction the titles go in.

“It was a good win for Usyk and a good fight for both of them really, a win either way for Joshua. They have a rematch now and I don’t know how that will turn out.

“He has reached the top level and what more can he do? I was a little bit surprised by the fight and, like a lot of people, I am of the opinion that he should have roughed him up, been a bit more physical with him and used his strength.

“He did what he did and Usyk just used his skill and boxed. He is a superior boxer so it all came good for him.

“He could possibly win the rematch and has got a chance. He is saying all the right things about changing up and coming in with a different attitude, so we will see,” continued Dubois, who believes Joshua’s training situation is purely down to personal choice and he must do what is right for himself.

“He has got to do what is right for him and look out for No.1. If it is a right decision he feels he needs to make then so be it.

“For me you always have to change things up when it goes stale and when something is broken you need to try and fix it. Good luck to him.”

To watch Dev Sahni’s full Unibet Lowdown interview with Daniel Dubois on YouTube, click here

DANIEL DUBOIS HAS placed the winning of a first world title belt right at the top of his 2022 wish list and has WBA champion Trevor Bryan firmly in his sights.

The London heavyweight knockout artist known as ‘Dynamite’ enjoyed a productive 2021 with two typical KO victories – over Bogdan Dinu and Joe Cusumanu – to take his professional ring record to 17-1, with 16 stoppages and more importantly place himself in the top spot of the WBA rankings.

His explosive success has seen him installed as No.1 challenger for the WBA world heavyweight championship currently held by the American Bryan.

Promoter Frank Warren has indicated a March return for the 24-year-old and says he would favour a straight shot at the champion, if the fight can be made.

“It is a new year with new things on the horizon, so I am really excited,” Dubois told Dev Sahni in the Unibet Lowdown.

“It was a good year and a kickstart to the comeback and everything went well. I am just looking forward to the future now, a new year, a new start and a new beginning.

“That [the Bryan match] is a fight that is going to happen. It is a fight I want and a title I want. Things are ticking over at the moment and it will hopefully go that way.

“I definitely fancy it. Since last year when it was mentioned to me I wanted it straight away. It has got to happen this year and I am more than ready, whether it is in England or the US, I want to get my hands on that title and bring it home.

“It is a step in the right direction for me,” reasoned Dubois, who went on to reveal that a brief assessment of the unbeaten Bryan did little to dampen his enthusiasm over his prospects in the fight.

“I’ve checked him out, of course, and he is not that impressive to watch. I just see somebody standing in my way if we get it on. Fingers crossed, we will.

“It will be fun, the whole show will be great and I want to take everyone on this trip with me, this ride to go further than we have been before and keep the momentum moving.

“I only see myself beating him and it is what I am trained to do. I can definitely knock him out and everyone knows I only fight one way.”

Claiming the WBA belt would put Dubois right in the thick of the elite heavyweight mix and place his name into the pecking order to challenge the super champion, who is currently Oleksandr Usyk and potentially Tyson Fury, the WBC king.

“Of course, whoever has the belts I want to face them. I am really excited and what is on the horizon is going to be good. I am determined to go for it now and look good in every performance I have, whether it is against Bryan or someone else.

“I am going to be explosive, devastating and really look the business.”

To watch Dev Sahni’s full Unibet Lowdown interview with Daniel Dubois on YouTube, click here

Images are free to use, please credit: Queensberry Promotions

Jake Paul remained undefeated with an eight-round sPLIT decision over former UFC Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in front of over 16,000 fans at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

Paul landed 71 of 207 punches; Woodley was 52 of 163.

Paul, 190 lbs of Cleveland won by scores of 78-74 and 77-75, while won a card 77-75.

Paul is now 4-0. Woodley, 189 1/2 lbs of Saint Louis, MO is 0-1.

For Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley photos (more to come), scorecard and punch stats using this link HERE

Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

JAKE PAUL

“I don’t know what to say. He was a tough opponent and he’s been fighting for so many years and I’m still new to this. My legs felt weird, I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me. All respect to Tyron though. He’s a Hall of Famer and put up a good fight. I have nothing but respect for him. There’s no hard feelings. This feels amazing to do this for my city and it’s a dream come true

“He hit me with one shot the whole fight, and it was a good shot. It was one real good shot. I don’t know what that one judge saw. But l still got the victory. For me to come here and go eight rounds in my fourth fight, who does that? I’m doing things that have never been done. 

“We’ll see who’s next. I’ve been fighting for 18 months now. I haven’t got my hair cut in two years. I haven’t stopped for a second. I’m just going to figure out what’s next.”

TYRON WOODLEY

“I feel like I won the fight. Jake is a great opponent. I didn’t expect him to eat my punches like that. But the fact that one judge only gave me two rounds is insane. Forget that Tommy Fury fight. Let’s run that back.

“Nobody is going to sell the PPV like we did. The ropes held him up when I hit him. I could have had that knockdown. I walked him down and landed back time and time again. I landed power punches, he missed shots all night.”

Serrano Decisions Mercado; Retains Featherweight titles

Amanda Serrano retained her WBC/WBO Featherweight titles with a 10-round unanimous decision over 122-lb world champion Yamileth Mercado.

In round nine, Mercado had a mouse for med under her left eye. Later in the round

Serrano landed 160 of 577 punches; Mercadro was 95 of 302.

Serrano, 124 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 and is now 41-1-1. Mercado, 124 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX is 18-3.

AMANDA SERRANO

“I had a tough Mexican in front of me tonight. She’s a champion in her own weight class, but I hope I made everyone proud and happy and that SHOWTIME will have me back again. I’m hoping that I made some of these people here fans of women’s boxing and that I made the sport proud. 

“I don’t want to say that I’m No. 1 pound-for-pound, because there are great female fighters like Claressa Shields. As long as I’m at the top with fighters like her, then I’m good. 

“I want that fight with Katie Taylor in the future. First I want to fight the other featherweight champions and become undisputed in my weight class. Then we’ll have two undisputed champions against each other when Katie and I fight.” 

DuBois Blows Out Cusumano inside of 1

Daniel Dubois made a statement in his American debut as he stopped Juiseppe Cusumano inside of the 1st round of their scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.

DuBois dropped Cusumano three times. The first was set up by a left hook that was followed by a right hand to the side of the head that sent Cusumano to the canvas. The 2nd knockdown cam from a combination on the inside. DuBois finished off the fight as DuBois laded a right to the jaw that was followed by a right to the head that folded Cusumano to the canvas at 2:10

DuBois, 238 lbs of London is 17-1 with 16 knockouts. Cusumano, 235 1/2 lbs of Danville, VA is 17-4.

DANIEL DUBOIS:

“You don’t get paid for overtime. I had a great performance and had the best training camp ever.

“I want to fight for a world title. I want to fight the best. It’s going to come soon. Whoever’s next. I want to fight for a world title.

“It was a great week. Amazing atmosphere. Good crowd and energy. I loved it.

Love Stops Baranchyk After 7

Montana Love scored the biggest win of his career and remained undefeated by stopping former world champion Ivan Baranchyk after round seven of their scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout.

At the end of round seven, Love landed a perfect counter left that sent Baranchyk down to the canvas. Branahcyk, who never seemed to get on track had the plug pulled on the fight after the 7th frame.

Love, 141 lbs of Cleveland, OH is now 16-0-1 with eight knockouts. Baranchyk, 140 1/4 lbs of Miami, FL is 20-3.

MONTANA LOVE

“I want to say thank you to everyone who came out tonight. Hopefully I gained some fans. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s very emotional to have this moment in my hometown.

“This is a dream come true. I’m in training everyday thinking about and visualizing this moment. I want to thank Ivan for giving me this opportunity and helping us give the fans a great show.

“We’d been working on that uppercut the whole time during training. The game plan was to move and box him and make him miss. We knew that eventually he was going to open up.

“Strap me up. We’ve been working hard and now it’s my time. I want Josh Taylor and Gervonta Davis. Line them up and we can make it happen, as soon as possible.”

Fury Decisions Taylor

Tommy Fury remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Anthony Taylor in a crruiserweight bout.

Fury landed 73 of 179 punches; Taylor was 29 of 113.

Fury, 179 lbs of Manchester, ENG won by scores of 40-36 and is now 7-0. Taylor, 175 lbs of Alemeda, CA is 0-2.

TOMMY FURY

“I thought I had a good performance. You can’t forget that I only had 10 amatuer fights and my dad wasn’t here with me tonight. I had a great time fighting in front of all these lovely people. 

“Jake Paul should have an easy night against me right? He has no excuse to not take the fight. Let’s get it on Jake Paul. I’ve done my part, now you do your part Jake, and we’ll get it on. 

“I’m a novice in this game and I know that I have to work on everything. I’m nowhere near a finished product. I’m learning every single day and I’m just thankful to be here healthy and talking to you. 

“I was nervous, but at the end of the day, we get in the ring and we fight. Day by day, second by second, I’m getting better and I’m learning. We’re going to get there slowly, but we’re going to get there surely.”

ANTHONY TAYLOR

“I felt like I stole rounds three and four. It could have gone either way. I controlled the middle of the ring and I backed him up. I of course feel like there was some bias because everyone wants to see Fury fight Jake Paul. 

“I was more active and threw more body shots. I’m happy with my performance, now it’s up to the powers that be if they want me back. I appreciated this opportunity that I got. 

“Everyone said he was going to knock me out in the first round, but obviously I gave him trouble. I’m not happy that the scores were unanimous.” 

DANIEL DUBOIS IS set to live his American dream when he crosses the Atlantic to take on Joe Cusumano in Cleveland on Sunday August 29.

The young heavyweight star joins light heavyweight hopeful Tommy Fury on the Showtime PPV card headlined by Jake Paul taking on the former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in his latest professional boxing adventure.

Dubois, 23, won the WBA Interim heavyweight title last time out, bouncing back from his single career setback against Joe Joyce with a resounding second round demolition of Bogdan Dinu in June to take his record to 16-1 (15 KOs). He is now in line for a shot at the WBA full title and is awaiting the governing body mandating a challenge to the current champion Trevor Bryan.

First of all though, he is seizing the opportunity to maximise his exposure to the US market and get a taste of the fight scene Stateside.

“It has always been my dream to fight in America,” said Dubois, whose American opponent carries a record of 19-3, with 17 KOs and has not been stopped in his three defeats.

“It is going to be quite some experience and there will be a lot of eyes on my performance. If I do what I do best the fans will go home happy and remember my name.

“I expect it to be a different type of crowd with younger people who are attracted by the YouTube stars. As boxers we could learn something from the YouTube people when it comes to building a following and the more people that watch boxing the better, as far as I’m concerned.

“Obviously my focus is on closing in on a world title shot, but I will not be taking this fight lightly and it is important to impress in front of a new audience and TV platform. I have seen the big fights on Showtime over the years and now it is my turn.

“If I put on a big show, you never know, I might get called out by a YouTuber!”

DANIEL DUBOIS AND Tommy Fury faced the media today to officially confirm their forthcoming appearance on the Showtime PPV headlined by Jake Paul and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, live on Sunday 29 August.

For their US debuts, Dubois takes on Joe Cusumano, with Fury going into battle with experienced MMA fighter Anthony ‘Pretty Boy’ Taylor in a light heavyweight contest.

Below is a selection of quotes from today’s event from promoter Frank Warren, Dubois and Fury.

Frank Warren
This has come about for two reasons. One, Showtime have been onto us constantly about Daniel coming over to the States and making his debut there. Simultaneously, the situation was developing between Tommy and Jake Paul, with them calling each other out, so Tommy called me a couple of months ago and said if you can make that fight, let’s do it.

We worked hard at it and it basically all dovetailed into place. It seemed like a great idea to get them both on the card over there, one for great exposure for both of them, then from Daniel’s point of view to break into the American market and from Tommy’s he will be sitting at a table with Jake Paul so he can’t run away from him.

If they want this fight, and Tommy does the business over there, there ain’t nowhere to go. You can’t keep calling people out and not doing it. It is something that I know Tommy wants badly and we’d like to see it and I won’t step in his way, even though I have made various comments over the years about YouTubers. I’ve got no problem with anyone who gets fit and well to get into the ring and God bless them for doing so, but now is the time for fighters I am promoting to capitalise on this.

This is a big chance for both of them to make a statement, increase their visibility in the States and move forward, provided they do the business at the end of this month.

I go back a long way with Showtime – many, many years – and we brought Naseem Hamed and Joe Calzaghe, along with many others, through on Showtime. I was instrumental in getting the ShoBox series going over there. We were doing regular shows back here that were being broadcast over there, with the likes of Ricky Hatton. This may be the chance for us to re-engage and do that again. They have a massive audience over there and there will be a lot of eyeballs on this show and it will attract a new audience for our guys.

Hopefully, with Showtime, we can get another platform for people to see all our fighters.

Daniel Dubois
I feel good about this and I have been waiting for the chance to get over to America and make my debut. Now it is finally here, I can’t wait. I want to go over there to make a statement, come away with a good win and then see what is next. It is definitely the chance to show them a future world champions and I have made some changes to my team and I am ready to get back up there again and challenge for big belts. I want to be back in the firing line.

We will see how I look after more time with Shane McGuigan but in the gym I have been looking different and better. Now I can’t wait to show it all on fight night. I will be 100 % ready for it, while underestimating nobody, and will get the job done.

I am sure Joe Cusumano will come and bring his A-game and that is what I want because it makes a better fight. We will clash in there and the winner takes all. The name Daniel Dubois will crack America now.

Tommy Fury
It is a big show and I am very happy to be on it. Now it is about making my own way in front of a new audience that is not the one we normally get. I am over there to do one job and one job only, and that is to win and look good doing it.

I want to impress in America and get my name out there even more. I just see excitement around this fight and I can’t wait to get over there and take everything in. From being a small boy I used to see Tyson in his fight weeks and saw everything. Now it is my turn and I am over there in the limelight and it will be my fight week.

I am there to steal the show, get this idiot out of the way, then we can move on to the other fella and knock him spark out. If I get the opportunity to knock this fella out in 10 seconds I will take it with both hands because it is the fight game and I am not here to mess about. If Jake Paul then goes running, he goes running, but I am there to do a job and if he wants the fight he can have the fight.

I am going to get through this man, I am gonna make an example of him because I wouldn’t even use him as a sparring partner. I am a big light heavyweight and he is gonna know what it feels like on the night.

I think me just walking to the ring outperforms Jake Paul. The man is not a fighter, he is a YouTuber and I’m going to show the difference in levels between MMA fighters and professional boxers.

NEW YORK (August 2, 2021) – Three more exciting matchups have been finalized for the highly-anticipated Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley SHOWTIME PPV fight card. Former world champion Ivan Barancyhk will compete along with U.K. stars Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois and Tommy “TNT” Fury makingtheir U.S. debuts in separate bouts on Sunday, August 29 from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

The five-fight SHOWTIME PPV telecast will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and be headlined by renowned content creator and undefeated professional boxer Jake “The Problem Child” Paul taking on the toughest challenge of his young career in the former UFC champion Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley. The card also features the previously announced world championship showdown between Puerto Rican star and WBC/WBO Featherweight World Champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano and super bantamweight world champion Yamileth Mercado of Mexico, which will serve as the co-featured bout.

A former junior welterweight world champion, Baranchyk will step into the ring to face the unbeaten Cleveland-native Montana Love in a 10-round showdown on the pay-per-view. Baranchyk seeks another run at the 140-pound title, while Love looks to score a career-best win.

The hard-hitting heavyweight Dubois, who is ranked No. 1 by the WBA, will face Joe Cusumano in a 10-round matchup, and Fury, the younger brother of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, will square off against combat sports veteran Anthony “Pretty Boy” Taylor in a six-round, 180-pound catchweight fight to open the pay-per-view telecast.

Additional action at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse includes top-10 ranked junior middleweight and 2016 U.S. Olympian Charles Conwell taking on Lucas Bastida of Argentina in a 10-round fight. Paul, Love and Conwell will be fighting critical bouts in front of their hometown fans at the Cleveland arena.

Tickets starting at $45 are still available via RocketMortgageFieldHouse.com. The event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions and promoted by Tony and Bryce Holden of Holden Productions. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. Barstool Sportsbook is the official sports betting partner for the event and will be incorporated in a unique, fully integrated brand activation that is to be announced in more detail.

The Belarusian Baranchyk now fights out of Oklahoma and will look to move closer to another world title opportunity with a win August 29. Sporting a 20-2 record with 13 knockouts, the 28-year-old returns to the ring after fighting in the 2020 Fight of the Year against Jose Zepeda last October. The two fighters combined to score a staggering eight knockdowns in the instant classic won by Zepeda. Baranchyk became a world champion in 2018 by stopping then unbeaten Anthony Yigit in seven rounds. He steps in against Love, a graduate of the ShoBox: The New Generation series who owns a 15-0-1 record with seven knockouts. A highly accomplished amateur, Love will be fighting in his hometown of Cleveland for the second time in his career.

“This is a big step for me,” said Baranchyk. “I am grateful to get back in the ring with someone like Montana after my loss. I want to show everyone that I’m back, I’m stronger, and I’m a new version of myself. I want to thank my fans for the support you’ve always given me. On August 29, it’s SHOWTIME, baby!”

“I know Ivan is a strong young fighter, but he has some ugly habits,” said Love. “We’re having a grueling camp right now and I’m going to keep it ‘Too Pretty’ on fight night. Cleveland deserves the show I’m about to put on.”

A promising heavyweight contender at 23 years old, Dubois has compiled a 16-1 record with 15 knockouts since turning pro in 2017. Dubois had an impressive amateur career as a five-time British junior national champion. A London-native, Dubois’ lone professional loss came against top heavyweight contender Joe Joyce in November 2020. Dubois rebounded quickly with an emphatic second-round knockout of Bogdan Dinu in June to capture the Interim WBA Heavyweight Title. Now, he takes on the 33-year-old Cusumano, who has won four of his last five bouts with all of those victories coming by stoppage. With a record of 19-3, his 17 knockouts give him an impressive 77% KO ratio. Fighting out of Danville, Virginia, Cusumano most recently knocked out Gregory Corbin in November 2020.   

“I am ready now to push on and build on the WBA interim title I won in my last fight,” said Dubois. “I am thrilled to take the show on the road and look to win the American public over. I am told the American public love heavyweight boxing, so it is time to introduce them to Daniel Dubois. I will make sure it is a name they won’t forget.”

Already a crossover star after his runner-up finish on the hit U.K. reality TV show “Love Island”, Fury will look to follow in the footsteps of his boxing-rich family and establish his own championship legacy. The 23-year-old from Manchester is 6-0 with four knockouts, having most recently earned a unanimous decision over Jordan Grant in June. Fury will be opposed by Alameda, California’s Taylor, an experienced MMA competitor who dropped his sole pro boxing appearance in 2017 by split-decision. The 32-year-old’s MMA experience includes five Bellator fights and a 7-5 overall record with wins in his last five fights. Taylor is currently training in Puerto Rico and is a regular sparring partner of Jake Paul as he prepares for his bout against Woodley.

“American fans can, as always with me, expect a big dirty knockout,” said Fury. “That is what I say and that is what I try to bring. I want to put on a masterclass performance and show levels again and show how much I am improving. This is another step on my journey to world titles.”

#  #  #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @TWooodley and @ShowtimeBoxing, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @Twooodley and @ShowtimeBoxing, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

JOE JOYCE CARRYING out his best work on canvas is not an unusual concept. After all, 11 of his 12 professional opponents to date have met with the floor of the ring or been saved from the imminent prospect by the instincts of a protective referee.

But Big Joe is also big into transferring his visions, experiences and emotions onto the fabric favoured by painters and artists, with the man known as The Juggernaut just as content quietly perching in front of his easel as he is marching forward with menacing intent under the lights in the ring.

The more than accomplished artist is particularly proud of his latest works. Not exactly painting by numbers, but the No.10 figures strongly in this very personal portrait.

It is a painting that tells the story of his November 28, 2020 heavyweight collision with the multi-titled, seemingly indestructible wrecking machine, Daniel Dubois.

Joyce got the sense that, in the eyes of the watching public, he was merely cast as another step on the gloried career ladder of the young world champion in waiting.

While he never doubted himself – and nor should he have, given his Olympic standing – Joyce accepted his role as a decorated underdog and knew the proof of the pudding would be in the punching.

And his jab, which essentially won him the fight, was on point and Dubois could take no more of the spearing accuracy and sunk to his knee in the 10th round to take himself out of the firing line. His left eye socket that had taken a pummelling from the left glove of Joyce was grotesquely swollen and his race was run.

The plaudits, along with belts, now belonged to Joyce and his portrait marks this moment in time for one of boxing’s quiet achievers.

“It was a turning point for me, where I went from an underdog to pretty much a fully fledged prospect,” explained the 35-year-old, who returns to the fighting fold against Carlos Takam at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday night. “It was a fight where everyone thought I was going to lose and even get knocked out in the first few rounds.

“I proved a lot of people wrong and won a lot of people money for Christmas.”

The fact that many of the fight public and pundits didn’t give him a prayer, Joyce believes, worked in his favour on the night, with the weight of expectation heaped firmly on the young man.

“Yeah it was less pressure and the heat was on Dubois. I’ve been in a lot bigger fights, the Olympics for instance, with a lot of people watching me, so I am used to the pressure. I just get on with it and perform on the night.

“The painting definitely reflects my moment, but I don’t know if it is quite finished yet. I look at it and think I could do more detail, but then I might lose some of the freshness of it. Maybe I have captured it,” he wondered, before telling the process of how he went about capturing the defining point of the fight.

“I just printed off an image, but I didn’t have a particularly good picture because it was from a clip of the fight and it was a bit pixelated so I couldn’t get all the detail I wanted. It does get to the point when you can overdo a painting and it is quite good to know when to stop, otherwise you can ruin the essence of what you are trying to paint.

“I can push my work to being almost photo realistic by painstakingly painting, but it just takes so long and you can get bored of painting the same thing. More recently I have preferred to work it all out in one sitting.

“You don’t want it to be too perfect or you might as well just blow up a photograph.”

This isn’t Joyce’s first venture into personal portraits and it almost certainly won’t be his last.

“The last time I did a self-portrait was my first year of university and I had some massive canvas that one of the students in the third year helped me make. It ended up being so big that it was wider than my outstretched arms and almost as tall as me.

“I will do one for the world title, for sure.

“The thing is, with boxing and painting, it takes time and you have to work at your skills.”

Joe Joyce v Carlos Takam for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles takes place at the SSE Arena, Wembley on July 24.

Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs).
 
Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.
 
In a well matched fourth title fight, Peacock gym ace Chris Bourke (9-0, 6 KOs) defends his WBC International super-bantamweight title against Bloxwich’s James Beech Jnr (12-1, 2 KOs).
 
There is also heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading super-featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill., along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

Tickets are available NOW from AXS.com. Click here to buy tickets.

£50 Tier
£70 Floor/Tier
£100 Floor
£150 Floor

LOGIC DETERMINED THAT it was Daniel Dubois who chose to remove himself from the firing line and take a knee in the 10th round of his huge domestic showdown against Joe Joyce in November.

Joyce, quite understandably, begs to differ.

The defeat of Dubois is the hallmark name on the record of the 2016 Olympic silver medallist, who is 12-0 with, officially, 11 thudding KOs. He had mixed in good company previously, but Dubois was the young, unstoppable force who pundits picked to knock the Juggernaut off-course.

It turned out that it was the Big Juggernaut who was in indestructible mode and his reward is another marquee name in Carlos Takam on July 24 at the SSE Arena, Wembley, as he hunts down a world title shot later this year or next.

For Joyce, it is big nights only from now on and Takam more than fits the bill, with the muscle-bound Frenchman respected as a dangerman of the division with 28 KOs to his name. With his heavyweight CV being 47 fights deep, the Cameroon-born banger is only one short of having had four times as many professional contests as the 35-year-old Joyce.

Whether he can make such experience count remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Joyce was all for having a last look back at the fight that transformed his career and also the public’s perception of his place in the heavyweight pecking order.

Joyce points out that he has stunned somebody before without actually touching them, but insists Dubois was feeling the effects of a ramrod jab.

“I saw a guy run into a tree once after I looked at him!” recalled the popular Putney native. “Well, it was from my jab – full body weight jabs! Apparently people were saying it was earlier in the fight that did the damage, but that last shot was a full-powered shot and Dubois must have felt something go in his eye and thought he’d had enough.”

But was it always the objective to bring about the downfall of Dubois via unusually nimble footwork and a crispy jab?

“I always work on the jab because it is the most important shot. When something is working and landing every time you stick with it. It wasn’t the plan and there were other combinations I was going to do.

“Perhaps if it wasn’t stopped then I would have to have picked it up in the last couple of rounds – especially knowing I was down.”

Indeed, Joyce was behind on the cards at the time of the stoppage, even though he believed himself the dominant force throughout the fight.

“I was well comfortable in there! Dubois was coming forward throwing his shots for a little burst of about 30 seconds and for the whole fight he was breathing heavily and couldn’t really keep up with the pace. I was nullifying his power and moving away from his shots, meanwhile landing my jab every time with accuracy and force.”

Joyce acknowledges that he had to resist approaching the fight in his traditional fashion of marching forward and being prepared to take a shot or two to land his own.

Recalling some pre-Olympic sparring with the now WBA Interim champion reminded him that freely trading leather wouldn’t be in his best interests.

“Yeah Dubois definitely has power and I felt it even before the Rio Olympics. He landed a big shot and I definitely felt it in sparring. I was seeing a few stars and I’ve always known he has that strength.

“But that is not the only thing in boxing and you have to have other attributes – rely on your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

“Styles make fights and you have to know what your opponent’s particular style is going in there and that is why you need a coach who can read that and you work on it in training. It would be different for every fighter tactically.

“Me being tactical is reserved for certain fights! I do enjoy a tear-up but I was not going to come charging in and get knocked out.”

Dubois returned to his trail of destruction in June following his recovery from orbital injuries and the usually resolute Bogdan Dinu was chopped down half a minute into the second round.

Joyce was pleased for his younger rival, but couldn’t match the obvious delight of Dubois himself, who showed a rare display of emotion.

“He was so happy about his last win – I have never seen him so happy!

“Taking a first loss is hard, especially when you have been built up so well and everyone expects you to win. He does have dynamite in each hand but I think there is a point where you get built too much and become complacent.

“Then you are built for a bigger fall and it happens a lot with British fans. I remember with David Price, he was the next great big thing and then he lost to Tony Thompson, then lost again. They build you up and really slate you when you fall.

“Daniel is showing that you can have a loss, come back and get back on the wagon.”

On the undercard at the SSE Arena, Wembley on July 24, Hamzah Sheeraz (12-0, 8 KOs) makes the third defence of his WBO European title against Spaniard Ezequiel Gurria (15-1, 3 KOs). Swansea’s Chris Jenkins (22-3-3, 8 KOs) will finally defend his British and Commonwealth Welterweight titles against Nottingham’s Ekow Essuman (14-0, 5 KOs) after recovering from injury.

There is also Heavyweight action featuring David Adeleye (6-0, 5 KOs), while Mill Hill’s George Fox (3-0) will make his Queensberry debut. Reading Super-Featherweight hope Charles Frankham (2-0, 1 KO) has also been added to the stacked bill along with ‘The Gent’ Micky Burke Jr (4-0, 1 KO) who also returns after his first stoppage victory in November last year.

Tickets are available NOW from AXS.com. Click here to buy tickets.

£50 Tier
£70 Floor/Tier
£100 Floor
£150 Floor
£300 VIP Hospitality

DANIEL DUBOIS 240.3lbs
BOGDAN DINU 250.4lbs

NATHAN HEANEY 159.12lbs
ILYAN MARKOV 154.12lbs

TOMMY FURY 189lbs
JORDAN GRANT 189.6lbs

CAOIMHIN AGYARKO 160.8lbs
ERNESTO ALVARO 159.8lbs

LIAM DAVIES 124lbs
STEFAN SLAVCHEV 127.12lbs

ADAN MOHAMED 125.8lbs
LUKE FASH 123lbs

GEORGE BANCE 146.3lbs
JORDAN ELLISON 146.6lbs

HIGH UP ON the heavyweight wish list of the returning Daniel Dubois is the chance to put right the only blot on his record that came against British rival Joe Joyce.

Dubois, who is back in action with a WBA Interim title shot against Bogdan Dinu in Telford on Saturday, says he would relish the opportunity of setting the record straight against the 2016 Olympic silver medallist should their paths collide once more.

Joyce was triumphant at the end of November when a compelling contest came to an end following Dubois taking himself out of the firing line due to extensive damage to his left eye. The now No.2 ranked WBO contender looked to have executed a cunning and effective game plan to derail the Dubois Express but, when the younger man was counted out, he was actually ahead on the scorecards.

Dubois can put himself right back in the title picture on Saturday with victory over the 20-2 Romanian Dinu, but scoring an equaliser against the only man to have defeated him as a pro remains a high priority, although he insists he will not be consumed by feelings of revenge in the meantime.

“I really do want it, but time will tell what route we both take from here,” said the 23-year-old with a current record of 15-1 (14 KOs). “I would love to fight Joe again. I think I could really do something and beat him. I wasn’t losing by a ton and getting pasted, it was a close fight in my opinion, so nip and tuck, really.

“I want to get back in that sort of level fight and beat someone of Joe’s calibre. We’ll see, I don’t know, only time will tell if it can happen. Right now I am just excited about the comeback.

“I do want to have revenge and to put it right, but if I’ve got to take it out on someone else then, hey, Bogdan is there to get it, isn’t he?”

Returning to the fighting fold with a major belt on the line is a significant bonus for Dubois and he believes we will witness a combination of his previous bullish approach as well as a degree of patience in the way he sets about Dinu.

“It is not bad at all and it is a nice cherry on the cake for my comeback,” he added on the prize on the line. “That is how I look at it and this belt is an important one to get me ranked and on track again.

“I know enough about him and he is a decent fighter, but not on my level and I will put him away in devastating fashion, I believe. I will make a real statement in this next one.

“You will see a bit of both from me, I think. I’ll have that fire in me to go out there and cause mayhem, but also to show my boxing and clever work behind a jab to set it up better.”

Daniel Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday June 5 when he takes on Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16KOs) for the WBA Interim heavyweight title. Light heavyweight favourite Tommy Fury is also in action in his sixth fight as a professional.

WBO ranked number four featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) returns in his first fight under new trainer Alan Smith, while Belfast Middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko (8-0, 5 KOs) will be aiming for his fifth successive inside the distance win. Stoke-on-Trent’s huge popular middleweight Nathan Heaney (11-0, 3 KOs) has his second fight under the Queensberry banner when he meets Bulgarian Iliyan Markov (6-14-2, 3 KOs).

Also on the show are unbeaten English bantamweight champion Liam Davies (8-0, 3 KOs), featherweight Adan Mohamed (1-0)  and 18-year-old decorated amateur George Bance, who makes his professional debut after signing with Queensberry. 

BOGDAN DINU has brought in the world’s most controversial boxer Jarrell Miller to help cause the downfall of Daniel Dubois.

The Romanian powerhouse challenges Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) for the vacant WBA interim Heavyweight title at Telford International Centre on Saturday June 5, live on BT Sport.

Miller is currently banned from boxing after a string of failed drug tests, but has been flown from the United States to Bucharest by Dinu (20-2, 16 KOs) for sparring ahead of the big Dubois showdown.

Dinu who will be risking his number two ranking for the WBA world title held by Anthony Joshua when he meets Dubois was beaten by Miller in 2018.

“Jarrell has a great style and I needed him for this fight,” said 34-year-old Dinu

“The preparation has been one of the best I have had. It has been a great training camp with good sparring, good coaches and I’m healthy.

“It has been good having Jarrell Miller in camp. He puts good pressure on, is heavy handed and is a strong guy. That is what I need for big fights like this.

“He is a nice guy, a funny guy and we train together. After every spar he gives me advice on what he believes will work in the fight

“I think it is a big difference between Dubois and Jarrell. Jarrell has power, skills, experience.”

Dubois is returning after suffering an injury loss against Joe Joyce last November and still holds a healthy world ranking with WBA and WBO.

The Londoner will be hoping that 6ft 5in Dinu goes the same way as his previous Romanian opponent, Razvan Cojanu who he toppled inside two rounds in March 2019.

Dinu told the Unibet Lowdown: “Cojanu never had a good strategy against Daniel. I will have a better one. I will get revenge for my old amateur team-mate.”

To watch the Unibet Lowdown with Bogdan Dinu click here

Daniel Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday June 5 when he takes on Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16KOs) for the WBA Interim heavyweight title. Light heavyweight favourite Tommy Fury is also in action in his sixth fight as a professional.

WBO ranked number four featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) returns in his first fight under new trainer Alan Smith, while Belfast Middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko (8-0, 5 KOs) will be aiming for his fifth successive inside the distance win. Stoke-on-Trent’s huge popular middleweight Nathan Heaney (11-0, 3 KOs) has his second fight under the Queensberry banner when he meets Bulgarian Iliyan Markov (6-14-2, 3 KOs).

Also on the show are unbeaten English bantamweight champion Liam Davies (8-0, 3 KOs), featherweight Adan Mohamed (1-0)  and 18-year-old decorated amateur George Bance, who makes his professional debut after signing with Queensberry. 
 

BOGDAN DINU is determined to show Daniel Dubois that actions speak louder than words in their big fight.

The pair clash for the vacant WBA interim Heavyweight title at Telford International Centre on Saturday June 5, live on BT Sport.

Dinu (20-2, 16 KOs) who is ranked number two in the WBA world rankings has been stung after Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) said of him: “He’s a standard boxer, he’s not that good nor that terrible.”

The 6ft 5in Romanian who last boxed in October when he knocked out Frank Bluemie in two rounds snapped back: “It is easy to speak.

“Look at Daniel’s last fight against Joe Joyce. It is difficult when you’re in there and on the receiving end.

“He is talking before he has met me. As Mike Tyson says everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”

Dinu, 34, has only had six more professional fights than Daniel but is much more experienced.

Britain will be the fifth country he has boxed in as a professional having fought in Bulgaria, Canada, United States and his homeland since turning professional 13 years ago.

His two defeats came in high calibre company against current sparring partner Jarrell Miller and two-time world title challenger Kubrat Pulev who he lost against in the seventh round of a contest where the cards were level.

As an amateur he also win a bronze at the World Junior Championships and a silver at the European Junior Championships.

Dinu told the Unibet Lowdown: ‘Daniel is coming back after a loss and he needs experience. You do that with years of work.

“Daniel lost a tough war last time he boxed, but in my opinion he needs more experience. I have the experience.

“I don’t know if they have made a mistake (picking me). I am prepared, coming to win and it will be a war from the first round.

“I am not surprised he has picked me for his return. If you want to win titles then you must always take on good fighters on big shows.

“Daniel is a good fighter, but he needs to learn and have more fights. Good fights, not just against regular fighters who lose in the first round.”

Dinu believes the years he has given up travelling around the world improving his skills will make a difference against British hope, Dubois.

He added: “In my mind I didn’t lose any fight. They are experiences and I am well prepared to get into the big and world championship fights.

“Boxing is low level in Romania and I have made sacrifices. Now is my time and I am ready for the World Heavyweight championship

“It will mean a lot to beat Daniel and people will be proud of me. I will be the winner and then on to the next opponent.”

To watch the full interview with Bogdan Dinu click here

Daniel Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday June 5 when he takes on Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16KOs) for the WBA Interim heavyweight title. Light heavyweight favourite Tommy Fury is also in action in his sixth fight as a professional.

WBO ranked number four featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) returns in his first fight under new trainer Alan Smith, while Belfast Middleweight Caoimhin Agyarko (8-0, 5 KOs) will be aiming for his fifth successive inside the distance win. Stoke-on-Trent’s huge popular middleweight Nathan Heaney (11-0, 3 KOs) has his second fight under the Queensberry banner when he meets Bulgarian Iliyan Markov (6-14-2, 3 KOs).

Also on the show are unbeaten English bantamweight champion Liam Davies (8-0, 3 KOs), featherweight Adan Mohamed (1-0)  and 18-year-old decorated amateur George Bance, who makes his professional debut after signing with Queensberry. 

TOMMY FURY has leapt to the defence of Queensberry stablemate Daniel Dubois and backed him to bounce ‘back stronger’ from his injury setback.

Dubois suffered his only career defeat against Joe Joyce in ten rounds last November when he took a knee having suffered a broken eye socket.

He has now been cleared to fight by doctors and Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) headlines on Saturday June 5 when he challenges Romanian Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16 KOs) for the vacant WBA interim Heavyweight title, live on BT Sport.

Fury, 22, is in action on the same bill and told host Dev Sahni on Queensberry’s The Lowdown: “I wasn’t in Daniel’s position. I’m not in that fight. You can only answer those things when you’ve been in that position yourself.

“I’m not gonna sit here after five professional fights, all four rounders saying what I would do in that scenario with a broken eye socket.

“I’d like to think I know what I’d do, but when you’re in that scenario it is a different story.

“Health is before wealth and I think Billy Joe Saunders did the right thing and lives to fight another day.

“I think Daniel is going to come back stronger with a knockout and back in the mix for some great fights. He just needs to keep building.

“It is so good to be on the undercard of such a good main event. It is a privilege to be on the card. I’m just looking forward to showing my skills on the night and what I’ve been learning.”

Fury (5-0, 4KOs) is wrapping up training for his contest next month with older brother Tyson Fury in Miami.

It’s looking increasingly likely that WBC World Heavyweight champion Fury will face Deontay Wilder for the third time later this summer.

If that happens, young Tommy fancies making it a family double on the undercard by meeting Wilder’s brother Marsellos.

He added: “That fight would make headlines. It would be a privilege to fight on Tyson’s undercard and both of us getting victories.

“I am up for that fight. I am up for anything. I am over here training, in shape so whatever comes I will be ready for.

“I’ll have a piece of him. I called him out before and he never replied.”

To watch Tommy’s full interview with Dev Sahni on The Lowdown click here

 Daniel Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday June 5 when he takes on Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16KOs) for the WBA Interim heavyweight title. Light heavyweight favourite Tommy Fury is also in action in his sixth fight as a professional.

Also on the show are unbeaten English bantamweight champion Liam Davies (8-0, 3 KOs), featherweight Adan Mohamed (1-0)  and 18-year-old decorated amateur George Bance, who makes his professional debut after signing with Queensberry. 

THE HEAVYWEIGHT COLOSSUS Daniel Dubois has revealed that he feels like he is starting his professional career all over again as he closes in on his date with Bogdan Dinu with the WBA Interim title at stake on June 5.

Dubois, of course, suffered the unfamiliar sensation of defeat at the back end of November when he entered into a heavy duty domestic duel with Joe Joyce with multiple titles on the line, including the British and European.

The 23-year-old, who had previously picked up nine championship belts in 15 fights, was considered by many to be the irresistible force of the heavyweight division, with the 2016 Olympic silver medallist believed to be a notable obstacle along his reign of terror that saw 14 of his opponents vanquished via stoppage.

The 35-year-old Joyce, a far more seasoned campaigner in the sport, had other ideas and brought his know-how to the fore in repelling the Dubois onslaughts, while picking him off with speedy and telling jabs to the eye of his younger opposition.

It was those measured and powerful prods from the left hand of Joyce that caused a grisly injury to Dubois’ left eye that ultimately resulted in him taking himself out of the line of fire in the 10th round of a close contest in which he was actually up on the cards.

So, instead of sitting back admiring his lofty ranking with the WBO and jostling for a seat at the top table, Dubois was left to lick his wounds and await medical reports over the severity of his injury. He was also left to ponder what went wrong and reconcile himself to the fact he would be embarking on a rebuild.

Dubois admits reconciliation was not instant.

“You know it took a few weeks actually, I must be honest,” he conceded. “Just to reflect, look back and slow everything down again, to pick up the pieces and start putting them back into place. I made decisions about the team, how we are going to move forward and what the next step is.”

A step the bright young heavy insists did not include sulking, even though the taste of defeat was far from familiar.

“I was doing a lot of things, picking up different sports like playing tennis and we’ve got a pool table at home, so I was doing a bit of that.

“I needed to shake the feeling off that a loss brings. It is a down feeling and I needed to overcome it to come forward and see the light.

“The last time I lost was an amateur, it was a good few years ago, when I was 16, probably. When you are a pro and the whole world is getting to see your vulnerabilities, it is interesting, you know. It is a proper sport this boxing.

“You have to ride with it and now I am back again and ready to come back stronger. I’ve looked at it, examined it, now I am ready to push on again, iron out my mistakes and put it right.”

During his period of contemplation Dubois reveals he harboured no doubts over his future participation in the sport, pointing out that his taking a knee maintained his own grip on his future plans rather than relying on medical opinion to continue.

“No, I was honestly too busy feeling bad to think about that. Once I collected myself and pulled myself together, not once did I have doubts over whether I would be coming back.

“Maybe it turned out right that I made the decision I did.

“There was a break from everything, but I am used to being in the gym. Usually after fights it is ‘who is next?’ but that slowed down a bit and now is the time to start again in life. I feel like I am starting my pro career again, as if I am an amateur just turning professional.

“That for me is great – a fresh start. There is no better feeling than the beginning.”

Daniel Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday June 5 when he takes on Bogdan Dinu (20-2, 16KOs) for the WBA Interim heavyweight title. Light heavyweight favourite Tommy Fury is also in action in his sixth fight as a professional.

Also on the show are unbeaten English bantamweight champion Liam Davies (8-0, 3 KOs), featherweight Adan Mohamed (1-0)  and 18-year-old decorated amateur George Bance, who makes his professional debut after signing with Queensberry. 

Heavyweight contender Bogdan Dinu is training hard in his hometown of Buzau, Romania, and getting some excellent sparring work from former foe Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller as he prepares to face Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois for the Interim WBA World Heavyweight Championship.

The 6? 5? WBA #2-rated Dinu (20-2. 16 KOs) will face the 6? 5? WBA #11-rated Dubois (15-1, 14 KOs) of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom, on Saturday, June 5. An upset victory over the heavily hyped Dubois will put Dinu one step away from realizing his dream of becoming the first Romanian heavyweight champion of the world.*

Joining the 34-year-old Dinu in camp are his brother George, co-trainer Ross Woolgrove and strength and conditioning coach Daniel Ortega. And this week, to provide world-class sparring, is well-known heavyweight contender and promotional stablemate Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, who stopped Dinu in four rounds in 2018. The pair have remained friends.

“I am training in my home city in my own gym,” explained Dinu between workouts. “I have everything I need here and it’s going really good with Jarrell. He’s one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world. He puts on a lot of pressure and that’s good for me to prepare for this fight. It’s an important fight and I must win!”

Dinu says he’s working on a surprise for the vaunted 23-year-old Dubois, who was considered a red-hot prospect before coming up short against fellow undefeated Brit Joe Joyce last November for the WBC Silver, WBO International, EBU European, Commonwealth (British Empire) and BBBofC British Heavyweight Championships. In the press, pre-fight, Dubois has been promising to knock Dinu out and return to the fast track.

“I see a young heavyweight who likes to fight, but has only faced easier opponents,” Dinu observed about Dubois. “His only tough fight was against Joe Joyce and we saw what happened. You’ll see by the result of our fight that his big reputation is exaggerated. He’s promising to knock me out? He’s just saying words because he hasn’t met me yet. He will have a big surprise when he looks in my eyes, just as tall as he is and not afraid of him at all. I am going to be very well-prepared and I have a lot of surprises for this kid.”

Dinu last fought in October 2020 with a second-round stoppage of German veteran Frank Bluemle in October 2020. His promoter, Greg Cohen, founder and CEO of Greg Cohen Promotions, says his fighter will be a different man when he shows up for battle on June 5.

“Bogdan Dinu has only lost to two of the top contenders in the division in Miller and Kubrat Pulev and he really should have won the Pulev fight,” said Cohen. “Bogdan is a very smart, experienced, tough guy with a great amateur pedigree and I don’t think Daniel Dubois is ready for someone with his world-class skills and experience. Dinu is working every day in camp with Jarrell, who is pushing him to his limits and taking him to new levels as a fighter. After June 5, Bogdan Dinu will be the interim WBA heavyweight champion in line to face one of the top dogs.”

*The WBA ranks Anthony Joshua as their super champion, Trevor Bryan as their regular champion, Robert Helenius as their gold champion and Manuel Charr as their champion in recess.
?

#

About Greg Cohen Promotions

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen is lauded for his expert guidance of, among many others, current WBA Middleweight Champion Rob Brant from Minnesota, top-rated heavyweight contender Jarrell “ Big Baby” Miller from New York and former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout of New Mexico. All three fighters, under Cohen’s promotional watch, went from unknowns to prospects to national television stars.

In addition, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney, as well as former WBA World Champion Ismael Barroso and former WBO-NABO Super Middleweight Champion “Mean” Joe Greene.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, CBS Sports, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

After a whirlwind few days where young Heavyweight superstar Daniel Dubois has been unexpectedly thrust back into the media spotlight, ‘Dynamite’ has now said it is “time to move on”.

Daniel was last seen in the ring on November 28 when he suffered a horrific eye injury at the hands of Joe Joyce.

In the wake of that shock defeat internet trolls, and even some within boxing, were keen to put the boot in on Dubois by questioning his decision to take a knee and end the bout.

One such figure was Billy Joe Saunders, who was vociferous in his criticism of the 23-year-old mild-mannered bruiser.

Those remarks would come back to bite Bill, who would fall to Canelo Alvarez after suffering a very similar injury.

Daniel says he understands why the fans and press alike have jumped on this ironic twist of fate but has insisted it is time to move on.

The ever-classy Dubois said: “I understand why everyone has wanted to make comparisons between me and Billy, but it’s time to move on now.”

Saunders is currently awaiting treatment at a hospital in Dallas and Dubois says it’s time to give him space to recover and regroup.

“Billy has had his injury, people have said what they’ve had to say but now it’s time to let him rest, heal and be with his family.

“It’s important for me to move on too. I’ve got a fight on June 5^th with Bogdan Dinu that I need to get ready for.”

The Heavyweight collision with Romania’s Bogdan Dinu will be Dubois’ first taste of action since suffering his injury and he is keen to put the memories of that fateful night behind him.

“Over six months of frustrations are ready to come out. You are going to see the best version of Daniel Dubois in that ring on June 5^th. I will beat Bogdan Dinu up and knock him out.”

Some may have expected young ‘Dynamite’ to have taken an easier fight for his return, but Dubois was keen to jump back in the mix and take on #2 ranked WBA Heavyweight Dinu with the WBA Interim title on the line.

“Dinu is a decent test. He does some things very well. He has fast hands and can move. He’s ranked #2 for a reason, and he’ll see this as a chance to get a title.”

Whilst Dubois is keen to move on from both the events of this past weekend in Texas and his own defeat in November last year, he understands that the only way to truly do that is deliver something spectacular in the ring.

At just 23-years-old, he will be looking to add a 15^th career KO to his record and improve to 16-1 as a professional.

Dubois is fully aware of the question marks that surround him after the nature of his last defeat and he is confident he has all the answers.

“I need to do what I do, show people why they called me ‘Dynamite’ in the first place” Dubois said, “It’ll be a devastating performance, I promise you. A huge knockout to put myself back on the map.”

‘BACK STRONGER: DUBOIS vs DINU’ IS LIVE ON BT SPORT 1 HD ON SATURDAY JUNE 5^th

DANIEL DUBOIS WILL make his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday June 5 with a challenge for the vacant WBA Interim heavyweight title against the towering Romanian Bogdan Dinu.

The 23-year-old Dubois was last in action at the end of November 2020 in a multi-titled collision with fellow Brit Joe Joyce in London. An absorbing battle came to a halt when Dubois, who suffered a horrific eye injury, removed himself from further danger by taking a knee in the 10th round.

It was later confirmed that he had sustained significant damage to his orbital bone and taking himself out of the firing line almost certainly preserved his career and protected against an even more serious injury.

Having now been given the all-clear from specialists, the 15-1 Dubois is ready to pick up where he left off prior to the Joyce fight and get back into the business of winning titles. Dubois is formerly the holder of the WBC Youth world, the Southern Area, English, British, WBO European, WBO Global, WBO International, Commonwealth and WBC Silver belts.

Dinu, 34, from Bucharest, holds a record of 20-2, with 16 of his wins coming via knockout. The 6ft 5″ puncher, ranked #2 by the WBA, returned to winning ways with two KO victories after suffering his only career losses in the USA when he went up against the unbeaten ex-contender Jarrell Miller and the hugely experienced campaigner Kubrat Pulev.

The show will be co-promoted by Dinu’s US promotional vehicle, Greg Cohen Promotions.

“I am excited to be back in the ring on June 5 after the frustration of being kept out of the gym and doing what I love to do for a number of months after my last fight,” said Dubois.

“This is my chance to remind people of what I am really about, which is winning fights in a devastating fashion. I don’t need to make any excuses for the Joe fight because everybody could see the issue with my vision, but Joe won fair and square and we move on.

“Time is on my side but I don’t intend to slow down my progress and I am more than happy to be returning to the ring in a big title fight that puts me right back in the picture.

“I respect Dinu and accept that he could provide a tough test, but I can only see one outcome and that is me leaving the ring with another major championship belt for my collection.”

Dinu, who last fought in October 2020 with a second round stoppage, said: “This is the most important fight for me and I will be prepared for a war in the ring. It’s my perfect moment to win and to get to the big fights. I’m fighting in London to become the first Romanian heavyweight champion of the world.”

Promoter Frank Warren added: “I’m delighted to get this fight over the line for Daniel and really pleased to be working with Greg Cohen on this event. A win for Daniel in this Interim title fight will see him become the mandatory challenger for the WBA world title and, if he can get past Dinu on June 5, he is back in contention and right in the mix with the top contenders.

“It is an opportunity for Daniel to post a ‘business as usual’ statement to the public and the rest of the heavyweight division following his setback against Joe. Daniel’s enthusiasm to reach the very top has not diminished in the slightest and, even though it is a bit of an old cliche, it is true that he will only learn and benefit from the experience of taking a first loss and rebuilding from it.

“Dinu is a high quality and respected opponent who in no way can Daniel take lightly. It is exactly the sort of challenge he needs at this stage in his career. Daniel achieved so much, so early on his professional journey and remains so young in heavyweight terms.

“There will be significant pressure on Daniel coming back after a first defeat and the focus will be right on him to see how he reacts. He is returning in a big fight, everything will be on the line and the prize on offer is a shot at the world title.”

Greg Cohen, founder and CEO of Greg Cohen Promotions, said: “This is the career defining bout that Bogdan Dinu has been waiting for his entire life. The opportunity to not only fight for, but WIN a WBA Heavyweight Title, against a top rated and well respected fighter in Daniel Dubois will put Bogdan at the top of the heavyweight division and open the doors to mega fights for him in the near future. His entire team has been assisting him in preparing for this moment and he will undoubtedly seize the moment. It won’t be easy, but the years of hard work, sacrifice and experience are going to pay off.

“I’d like to thank the entire team at Queensberry for their professionalism and assistance in making this bout a reality. I’d also like to thank Sorin Florea, Bogdan’s long time manager from Romania who’s support, attention to detail and class are always instrumental and appreciated.  We look forward to a great night of boxing and a spectacular heavyweight matchup!”

In a highly anticipated heavyweight battle of undefeated fighters, Joe Joyce scored a 10th round stoppage over Daniel Dubois at The Church House, Westminster in London, England.

It was a highly competitive and high quality scrap with DuBois getting the better early as he landed some hard right hands that Joyce showed a terrific chin by walking right through him. Joyce was very effective with his jab.

In round five, the effectiveness of the jabs showed as the left eye of Dubois began to swell. Dubois was still able to get in some good shots, but towards the end of the ninth round, you could feel the tide beginning to turn towards Joyce.

The eye of Dubois was getting worse and worse, and finally in round ten, Joyce landed another hard jab, that made Dubois first paw at his left eye and then take two steps back to take a knee and basically submitted as he watched the referee count to 10 and the fight was over at 36 seconds.

Joyce, 258 lbs of Puttney, London is 12-0 with 11 knockouts. Dubois, 244.6 lbs of Greenwich, London is 15-1.

Sheeraz stops Pitto in 10th

Hamzah Sheeraz won stopped Guido Nicolas Pitto in the 10th and final round of their super welterweight bout.

Sheeraz rocked Pitto with a hard right. That set up a nine punch flurry and then three hard punches later, the fight was stopped at 1:11.

Sheeraz, 153.9 lbs of East London is 12-0 with eight knockouts. Pitto, 152.9 lbs of Barcelona, SPA is 26-8-2.

Number-one ranked junior welterweight Jack Catterall tuned up for a world title opportunity by winning a 10-round decision over Abderrazak Houya.

In round six, Catterall dropped Houya with a perfectly timed counter-left. In round nine, Catterall sent Houya down again with a hard left.

Catterall, 143.3 lbs won by a 99-90 score and is now 26-0. Houya, 141.9 lbs is 14-3.

David Adeleye stopped Danny Whitaker in round two of their scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

In round two, Adeleye landed a right that dropped Whitaker. Seconds later, Whitaker was sent to the canvas for a 2nd time, and the fight was stopped at 2:09.

Adeleye, 219.4 lbs of London is 4-0 with all wins coming early. Whitaker, 260.1 lbs is 4-2.

Jack Massey won an eight-round decision over Mohammad Ali Bayat in a cruiserweight bout.

In round eight, Massey was cut over the right eye.

Massey, 201.6 lbs of Manchester, UK won by a 79-74 score and is now 17-1. Bayat, 200.7 lbs of Dubai i 16-2-1.

Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce is a fight that has captured the British public’s imagination with fans and pundits alike calling it the biggest all-British Heavyweight fight in many years.

UK fans will be watching exclusively live on BT Sport 1 HD tomorrow night at 7.30pm but the fight has also caught the attention of a global audience and Queensberry can confirm that over 100 countries will broadcast the fight this weekend.

Joining BT Sport 1 HD in taking this momentous event into peoples homes will be ESPN+ in the United States, amongst others. 

For a full list of broadcast partners please see the below:

BT SPORT 1 HD – UK and Ireland

ESPN + – USA

ESPN KNOCKOUT – Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Venezuela, Panama, Mexico

SABC – South Africa

RMC – France

FOX SPORT – Australia

MATCH TV – Russia

POLSAT – Poland

FITE – Germany, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

VIASAT – Sweden, Finland, Denmark

TSN DIRECT – Canada

S SPORT – Turkey

MTEL – Bulgaria

ADJARASPORT – Georgia

PRAGOSPORT – Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia

EUROSPORT – Spain, Portugal, India, Andorra

ONESPORT – Philippines

FLOW SPORTS – Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Cacos

WOWOW – Japan

CCTV5 – China

SPARK SPORT – New Zealand

AT LAST, Dubois vs Joyce is finally happening. It is a fight that has captured the public imagination and it goes down this Saturday night live on BT Sport 1 HD from 7.30pm.

Ahead of another huge night of boxing on BT Sport tomorrow, the competitors today weighed-in and faced off inside the fighter bubble hotel.

Photos from todays weigh-in can be found here, and the running order and weights can be found below.

Fight #1
Mitchell Barton (18st 6lb 2oz)
vs
Matt Gordon (17st 13lb 1oz)

Fight #2
Joshua Frankham (10st 9lb 2oz)
vs
Matt Hall (10st 8lb 6oz)

Fight #3
Louie Lynn (9st even)
vs
Paul Holt (9st 3lb 2oz)

Fight #4
Jack Massey (14st 5lb 6oz)
vs
Mohammad Ali Bayat (14st 4lb 7oz)

Fight #5
David Adeleye (15st 9lb 4oz)
vs
Danny Whitaker (18st 8lb 12oz)

Fight #6
Jack Catterall (10st 3lb 3oz)
vs 
Abderrazak Houya (10st 1lb 10oz)

Fight #7
Hamzah Sheeraz (10st 13lb 9oz)
vs
Guido Nicolas Pitto (10st 12lb 10oz)

Fight #8
Daniel Dubois (17st 6lb 6oz)
vs
Joe Joyce (18st 6lb 14oz)

AT LAST: DUBOIS vs JOYCE IS LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7.30pm ON BT SPORT 1 HD

AT LAST, Dubois vs Joyce is finally happening. It is a fight that has captured the public imagination and it goes down this Saturday night live on BT Sport 1 HD from 7.30pm.

Below are a selection of prediction quotes from some of the biggest names in the sport, and a few famous fans for good measure.

TYSON FURY
I want to be there for that. I want to be the commentary man for that fight. That’s a fight I do not want to miss. Both good fighters. Joe’s a big strong unit, Juggernaut, get in the way he’ll run you over. Daniel’s big and strong and youthful, fresh. They’re both good fighters and it’ll come down to who wants it more on the night. They’re both capable of winning, they’re both capable of pulling victories out and they’re both capable of knocking the other person out. It’s a fight you don’t want to miss. Watch it live and exclusive on BT Sport.
 

DAVID HAYE
I can see it going both ways. I can see Dubois being able to stop Joyce if it’s an early shootout. But, if it’s not an early shootout and it becomes a boxing match, I believe that works in Joe Joyce’s favour. So I’m going to go with the man I know, the man I’ve seen take some beatings and soak it up, I’m going to go with Joe Joyce by points decision or late stoppage.

JOHN FURY
I’m a little bit worried about whether it’s too early for Daniel Dubois. Joe Joyce is a big, strong seasoned man. We know he’s got a good engine and he can hold a shot well. It’s a hard one, but for my money it’s a bit too soon for Daniel Dubois.

ANDY LEE
I see it being a shoot out. I think Dubois’ extra speed will give him the edge and I think he’ll win by knockout.

RICKY HATTON
I think most people will lean to Dubois slightly because he’s a man in form. He’s a little bit fresher. Joe’s had a very distinguished amateur career, maybe he has a few more miles on the clock than Daniel. He’s quite versatile Joe. He can do pretty much everything. His style is a little bit in-your-face, though, which might suit Daniel Dubois. I think it’s a 50-50 fight, but Daniel might be a little bit fresher… I think that might just make the difference.

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
My prediction is an explosive fight. Could go either ways. They’re both big punching guys looking for the big one. I edge towards Dubois at this moment.

RICHIE WOODALL
I think if Daniel Dubois can land a big shot early on it’ll be his contest. If Joe can get through the first 3 or 4 rounds and take Daniel into the later stages… then the tide could turn after 5 or 6 rounds. If I had to put money on it, I’d probably just fancy Daniel to be honest.

LIAM WILLIAMS
I think it’ll be a very good fight. I quite highly favour Dubois, but if Joyce can weather a bit of a storm then I think he’s in with a chance. If you put a gun to my head, I’d have to put my money on Dubois.

NATHAN GORMAN
It’s a real 50-50 fight in my opinion. I think lot of people are writing Joe off, but it’s a lot closer than that. Joyce has got a good amateur pedigree. Daniel on the other hand is a big power puncher, massive backhand. Under six I’ll favour Daniel, over six it’ll be interesting to see what happens.

TOMMY FURY
50-50 in my mind. Obviously Joyce can shift a shot, he’s more experienced coming from the amateurs. He’s had some good fights as a professional. Then you’ve got a young boy Daniel Dubois, British champion on his way up. I know it’s a cliché to say that if it goes long Joyce will win it and if it goes short Daniel will win it but really, I just wish good luck to both men hope they put up a good fight and may the best man win.

CARL FRAMPTON 
This ones really interesting. Both guys are punchers. Dubois is technically better than Joe but Joe, even though he looks really unorthodox, he’s got an engine like I’ve never seen before in my life. I was lucky enough to train with him and I’ve never seen a fitter boxer. He’ll want to apply his pressure to Dubois and make him work hard from the start. I think it’s going to be a great fight, Joe’s going to force the pace from the start and he’s going to walk onto a lot of shots so it’s all about how well his chin holds up. The later the fight goes on the more chance that Joe has but I’m going to stay with Dubois on this one. I think Dubois will get to him at some point, probably a stoppage in the middle rounds.

DAVID PRICE speaking to SecondsOut

(Picking Joe Joyce) “It’s the intensity he fights at. It’s his unconventional, unorthodox style which can throw people a lot. Bryant Jennings is a top operator… and Joyce is getting in with him when he hasn’t even had ten professional fights. I believe (Joe) is an Olympic Gold medaller, really. So, Joe’s going into the fight in my eyes as the favourite.
 

ADAM CATTERALL (TalkSPORT presenter and Fight Disciples co-founder)

Two top blokes throwing down for our entertainment. Like everybody else I see either Daniel early or Joe late. I can’t see it going the distance. Joe is tough but he does get hit. If Daniel can open him up with that jab and left to the body, the head shots will come. Can’t see Joe getting knocked out but I can see him stopped on his feet.

PADDY CONSIDINE (Top actor who starred in Journeyman)

I have to pick Daniel. The momentum is with him. Joe seems too easy to hit with the right hand. Joyce may have a great chin, but he can’t keep taking those all night. This is going to be a great fight. It reminds me of Lennox Lewis v Gary Mason

LOU DIBELLA (Leading US promoter)

I love this fight — clash of styles,  with the outcome in doubt. Big Joe is physically strong, durable, more experienced, and has reach… but he’s slow. Dubois is more mobile, can be explosive, and has potential out the ying-yang. This is a great domestic brawl. The kid’s more athletic and I’m predicting a mid/late stoppage for Daniel.

DEAN EDWARDS (Celebrity chef, boxing nut and previous MasterChef runner-up)

I’m so pleased that we are getting the sort of domestic dust up that so many fighters try to avoid, it’s a 50/50 fight but if I had to pick, my prediction is that Daniel wins via TKO round 4. This is going to be a great fight.

RON LEWIS (Leading Boxing writer)

This is a real gut check for Dubois. As much as people will predict big things about his future, he has never beaten anyone nearly as good or experienced as Joyce and I could easily see Joyce wearing down Dubois and stopping Dubois. However, I think the difference between the pair is defence. Joyce doesn’t mind taking a shot and at some point that will be his downfall. Joyce will take some shifting but if Dubois catches him cleanly enough often enough, he will stop him. Dubois 7-9.

CHRIS McKENNA (Daily Star)

I believe Dubois will have to come through some storms early in the fight, Joyce will be relentless and will pile plenty of pressure on while may even come close to forcing a stoppage of his own but I think the younger man will dig deeper and find something late on. But it will need the referee to take Joyce out as he will be brave and want to fight on.

ANTHONY OGOGO 

Going to be a great fight, two of the biggest prospects in Heavyweight boxing tearing it up, like the good old days. It’s as close to a 50/50 as you can get but I’m slightly leaning towards Joyce as he’s more experienced in big matches, his physical maturity and experience in big fights and competition like the Olympics , etc.

JON PEGG (Top Matchmaker)

I keep changing my mind on this one. I’m going for the Peacock  Gym team to tip the balance with their experience and Dubois to get a hard fought stoppage around 7.

KALLE SAUERLAND (Top Promoter)

I think it’s an excellent 50/50 fight and has the makings to be a classic. Dubois is a phenomenal talent but is this a match-up too early for him? I could not pick a winner as there are too many unknowns but if I had too I would have to pick Joyce because I have seen him in the deep end before. Good luck to both.

SARAH SHEPHERD (The Athletic)

We know a few things going into this fight: Joe Joyce has a granite chin and serious engine and Daniel Dubois can absolutely bang. Combined, those factors suggest we will see Joyce look to survive an inevitable onslaught in the first few rounds and take Dubois into deep waters late on. I’m not sure he makes it and can see the referee stepping in to save him before it gets that far.

LIAM SMITH (Former WBO Super-Welterweight champion)

 I think it’s a top fight between two very good Heavyweights who are both on the up. It’s a good clash of styles. If Dubois has it in the tank, I think he wins, he’s better all round.  If he doesn’t, and doesn’t do Joyce in the first few rounds, then Joyce could come on for a late stoppage. But, my pick is Dubois win, 4-6 rounds.

MARK TIBBS (Top Trainer)

I believe ‘Dynamite’ Dubois is gonna explode on point and extinguish Joe Joyce within six rounds.

TROY WILLIAMSON (Leading Super-Welterweight prospect)

A lot of people are writing Joe off, but he’s GB’s most decorated amateur for a reason. I’m going for JJ win.

WALLY DOWNES (The Sun)

I can’t back against Daniel, his rise and his camp has been so seamless and continuous whereas Joe, for all his talent, has never really settled anywhere or been the main man. I have only seen Joe Hurt once and that was to the body. I think Daniel will target that and get the job done.

GARETH A DAVIES (Telegraph, talkSPORT)

This is an enticing, thrilling match-up and a crossroads fight for both Dubois and Joyce. Dubois has the edge in speed and devastating power, but Joyce looks like he means business and victory would elevate him into the top of the division. If Joyce is still there and intact after six rounds it will be fascinating, especially if Dubois has been tested by Joyce’s punches. I think Dubois wins this, if he can take those punches, around the sixth round.

MIKE COSTELLO (BBC 5Live)

It could be one to remember, coming at such a pivotal time for both. I believe the accuracy of Dubois with the left hand – the jab and the body shot – will be the key factor in the outcome, offsetting the greater work rate of Joyce.

AT LAST: DUBOIS vs JOYCE IS LIVE THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7.30pm ON BT SPORT 1 HD

HALL OF FAME promoter Frank Warren today held the final head-to-head press conference ahead of the sensational Heavyweight showdown between unbeaten KO Kings Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce.

The unbeaten Londoners collide in an explosive 12 rounder at Church House, Westminster on Saturday (November 28)  live on BT Sport, on a Queensberry Promotions bill.

‘Dynamite’ Dubois (15-0, 14 KOs) will be defending his British, Commonwealth and WBC Silver titles against Olympic silver medallist  ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce (11-0, 10 KOs). The vacant European championship is also on the line.

The clash is one of the biggest fights in Heavyweight boxing and the winner will be in line for a world title challenge next year.

Dubois, 23, is ranked at number two by the WBO and seventh by the WBC. Joyce is highly ranked by the IBF, WBC and WBO.

Here are a selection of quotes from today’s event.

FRANK WARREN

It’s 40 years of promoting for me on December 1 and this is the most mouth watering fight, three days before that anniversary. What makes it special? They are tremendous Heavyweights who have done everything asked so far. It rarely happens that they do fight at this stage of their careers, but when the fight was put out they both wanted it and didn’t take a backward step. That tells you their self-belief. They believe they have the beating of each other. There is no give in either of them.  Joe’s got tremendous amateur experience, was robbed of the Gold medal in the Olympics. He brings that to the table. Daniel has dedicated his life to boxing and look at what he has done after having had just seven senior amateur fights. On the day you have all the experience and punching power of Joe and we have the young hungry lion who wants to get out and show what he has got. Daniel is a tremendous puncher and capturing everyone’s imagination. It’s got the ingredients of an amazing, amazing fight. Whatever happens the winner will become new mandatory for the WBO or fight Usyk for the vacant title if Anthony Joshua fights Tyson Fury. People talk about Daniel like he is a one trick pony and just has a big punch, but he has a great jab. It is superb. Every fight he brings something else. Joe will bring the best out of him. That’s why it is a phenomenal fight. How do I see it? Whoever controls this fight from the beginning will be the winner. This is it — a big moment in time for both of them. The winner is in the big time. If you’re going to watch any fight this year or in the next 12 months this is the one.

DANIEL DUBOIS

I feel confident and left no-stone unturned in training. I am not intimidated by his experience. He has never been in with a fighter like me before and I’m ready to go. I’ve accomplished what I’ve needed to and it’s my destiny. You can argue some guys he beat were past their prime. I am young and hungry. I am ready to go 12 rounds no problem if I have to. I am ready for a long, hard fight but also a quick one. I have the power in both hands to take him out. I will break him down and chop him up. People haven’t seen the best of me. This fight will show I can do something else. I am looking forward to showing my whole repertoire and skill. I want to win in devastating fashion and knock him out. I want to send a clear message to the rest of the fighters in the Heavyweight division and to the world that I am coming. I’m ready for war.

JOE JOYCE

I am not under pressure. I am confident and ready to do the business. The bookies have Daniel in a good position so he has the pressure to deliver.  I’m the underdog and coming to take him out. I don’t care if people have written me off. My amateur experience makes a difference. I have been there and been tested. There are no questions about my ability and my achievements. Dubois hasn’t done anything in the Senior amateurs or quite yet in the pros. I feel I have achieved more in my fewer professional fights than he has. I have had the test and answered questions.  I’m in a place where I’m ready to go for that world title. I have seen him knockout guys, but do you think I wouldn’t have knocked out those guys? I have power in both hands, I have a good chin, my engine is good and I’m ready to go 12 rounds if need be. If I see the opportunity I will punch him until he’s down. If his power doesn’t put me down he is in a heap of trouble. I’ve taken big punches and kept going forward. I prefer not to take them big shots. I want to move out of the way and not get hit. I’m not blessed with speed but I hit the target and keep coming. I don’t want to leave it to chance. I want to go to work, find my range and knock him out. I have nothing to say to him except respect your elders and he will do on Saturday night.

Photos from todays press conference can be found here

AT LAST: DUBOIS vs JOYCE IS LIVE THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7.30pm ON BT SPORT 1 HD

JOE JOYCE has revealed he feels “insulted” by bookmakers who fancy him as the underdog in his upcoming battle with ‘Dynamite’ Dubois.

Speaking to The Queensberry Lowdown, Presented by Unibet, Joyce explained that the way he has been overlooked has left him feeling like a mere journeyman.

Currently, Unibet themselves have Daniel Dubois as the 2/9 favourite, whilst ‘Juggernaut’ is an outside bet at 3/1 to emerge victorious.

It is expected that the fight will be an explosive affair, too, with Unibet offering just 3/10 on the fight not going the distance.

“To be honest, I feel a bit insulted” said Joyce, “the way the bookies have it is just crazy. It’s like I haven’t done anything and I’m just a journeyman.

“It’s like I’m the underdog.”

Olympic Silver medallist Joyce is confident the bookies have got it wrong, and vowed that “people who bet on me will have a nicer Christmas.”

At 35-years-old, and with a wealth of amateur pedigree, Joyce believes his experience will be what gives him the edge over 23-year-old Dubois.

“I’ve performed at a higher level, so that psychologically gives me an edge,” said Joyce. “We’ll see on the night if it’s going to be the young, hungry pup or the more seasoned veteran.”

Joyce received criticism for his physique earlier this year when he boxed Michael Wallisch.

Though ‘Juggernaut’ would come through that test with flying colours, advancing his record to 11-0 in the process, many fans and pundits questioned his career high weight of 270lbs.

Any fears he may come in for the Dubois scrap equally chunky seem to have been allayed though, with a series of social media posts this week showing off his impressive abs.

Joyce didn’t reveal what he planned to weigh come fight night, but he did turn the tables on young Dubois by questioning his own increasing size.

Daniel weighed in at 231lbs for his debut in 2017, whereas when he took out Dutchman Ricardo Snijders in August at the BT Studios he was a whopping 244lbs.

“(Daniel) looks great. He looks hench mate, he looks massive.

“But it’s not all about size or how good your body looks in the boxing ring. He’s got big muscle mass, so it’s going to be hard to keep throwing shots.”

However “insulted” he may feel, Joe’s new slim line body is clearly a testament to the work he’s been putting in at the gym and he believes preparations couldn’t have been better as he readies himself to beat not just Dubois but the odds too.

“Camp has gone great and I’m firing on all cylinders.”

————————————–

Joe Joyce on The Queensberry Lowdown, Presented by Unibet, is live now at the Queensberry Promotions YouTube page here

—————————————

Dubois vs Joyce headlines a great night of boxing action, live on BT Sport 1 HD on November 28th.
 
On the undercard, highly-touted Ilford youngster Hamzah Sheeraz (11-0-0, 7KO’s) will defend his WBO European Super-Welterweight title against canny Spaniard Guido Nicolas Pitto (26-7-2, 8KO’s). Jack Catterall (25-0-0, 13KO’s) will take on the French-based Tunisian Abderrazak Houya (14-2-0, 2KO’s) in a 10 round Super-Lightweight contest ahead of his challenge for the WBO world title.
 
London Heavyweight David Adeleye (3-0-0, 3KO’s) returns to behind-closed-doors action for the third time when he battles Silsden’s Danny Whittaker (4-1-0). 
 
Jack Massey (16-1-0, 8KO’s) returns to action in an 8 round Cruiserweight contest against a fearsome puncher from the UAE, Mohammad Ali Bayat Farid (16-1-1, 16 KO’s).
 
Joshua Frankham (1-0-0) will return to Super-Welterweight action, Louie Lynn (7-0-0, 6KO’s) will look to follow up his 2nd round TKO from the 25th July and Henry Wharton backed Heavyweight Mitchell Barton will make his long awaited pro-debut.

(November 19, 2020) — The highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown between British and Commonwealth champion Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois and Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce — Saturday, Nov. 28 in London— has an American broadcast home.

Dubois-Joyce and unbeaten junior middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz against veteran Guido Nicolas Pitto will stream live on ESPN+ beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, with a full slate of undercard contests (including the return of WBO No. 1 junior welterweight contender Jack Catterall) on ESPN+ starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

The 12-round heavyweight main event will also be contested for the vacant European title.

“The future of the heavyweight division will be seen live on ESPN+ Nov. 28,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Daniel Dubois is a tremendous young fighter, but Joe is older and had an incredibly successful amateur career. I am glad that American fight fans will have an outlet to watch one of the year’s best fights.”

Dubois (15-0, 14 KOs), winner of six in a row by KO, is no stranger to American fight fans, as his last eight bouts have streamed live on ESPN+. He went 5-0 in 2019, including a second-round stoppage over former world title challenger Razvan Cojanu, a fifth-round KO over fellow prospect Nathan Gorman and a second-round blitzing of Kyotaro Fujimoto last December. He made his 2020 debut Aug. 29 and knocked out Ricardo Snijders in the second round.

The 35-year-old Joyce (11-0, 10 KOs) turned pro in October 2017 after capturing a super heavyweight silver medal for Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He wasted no time as a professional, as he won Commonwealth honors in only his fourth bout. In 2019, he knocked out former world champion Bermane Stiverne in six rounds and veteran gatekeeper Alexander Ustinov in three rounds to increase his knockout streak to nine. In July 2019, he went the 12-round distance and outworked former world title challenger Bryant Jennings over 12 rounds. He returned to action July 25 and knocked down Michael Wallisch three times en route to a third-round stoppage.

For more information, visit www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing and twitter.com/ESPNRingside; IG: @espnringside.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 8.5 million subscribers.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (ad-supported) — all for just $12.99/month.

Hall-Of-Fame Promoter Frank Warren will celebrate forty years in professional boxing by bringing the two biggest domestic battles of the year right into the heart of Central London.

Dubois vs Joyce (28^th Nov) and Yarde vs Arthur (5^th Dec) will take place at the majestic Church House, in view of the world famous Westminster Abbey.

Church House was founded in 1887 and was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The current building was designed by the renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker and the foundation stone was laid by Her Majesty, Queen Mary on 26 June 1937. It took until 1940 to complete and was officially opened by His Majesty, King George VI on 10^th June 1940.

The building suffered a direct hit in the early part of WWII but due to its exceptional construction only minimal damage was done. The Prime Minister of the day, Winston Churchill, was so impressed by this that the building was refurbished for use by the two Houses of Parliament for the remainder of the war.

Many historic speeches and events took place within the building during this time, in particular the announcement by Churchill from the stage of the Hoare Memorial Hall of the sinking of the battleship Bismarck.

In 1945, the first meetings of the United Nations Preparatory Commission and Security Council were held in the Hoare Memorial Hall.

Frank Warren said: “I’m delighted to be able to confirm such a spectacular venue to host two weeks of fantastic big time boxing. It’ll be a more than fitting way to celebrate my forty years in professional boxing.

“Both these bouts are going to be battles for the history books, so it makes sense they’d take place in a venue so rich in history.

“Winston Churchill announced the sinking of the Bismarck inside this venue, and soon we’ll know who out of Dubois, Joyce, Yarde and Arthur will sink or swim.”

————————————————————————

About Church House Westminster

Church House Westminster is a Grade-II listed multi-purpose event and conference venue uniquely located in tranquil Dean’s Yard. Most of its 19 flexible event spaces offer stunning views of Westminster Abbey. The dedicated team are consistently recognised by the BDRC Gold Standard for their commitment to service excellence throughout all areas. The conference and event spaces are equipped with the latest technology, supported by the venue’s own in-house, award-winning Audio-Visual team.

Address: Dean’s Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ
Telephone: 020 7390 1590 
Email: sales@churchhouseconf.co.uk
https://www.churchhouseconf.co.uk/
twitter.com/churchhouseconf
Instagram.com/churchhouseconf
facebook.com/Churchhouseconf
linkedin.com/company/churchhouseconf

TOM LITTLE has felt the force of Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce – but isn’t slow in giving his big fight prediction.

“I think Joe is going to beat him and I hope he does.” said Little.

Boxing is split over the outcome when the World’s top two Heavyweight prospects clash on Saturday November 28, live on BT Sport.

Little lost in five rounds when he faced Dubois in June 2018 and is often called up by Joyce for sparring.

He explained: “I have tossed back and forward over this fight. I’ve wrestled with it physically.

“When I say I want Joe to win, it’s not because I don’t like Daniel. I like Daniel, he is a nice boy and I have no hard feelings towards him.

“I just think it is a fight too early for him against someone who has big amateur pedigree and fought big names as a professional.”

Little revealed he has also been giving tips to Joyce ahead of the triple title clash where Dubois defends his British and Commonwealth belts, with the vacant European championship also on the line.

He added: “The first minute of that fight is going to be so important in the fact that Joe needs to take his jab away.

“I can tell you first hand, Daniel Dubois has got a jab like a straight right hand. It hurts a lot, believe me.

“Joe knows this. I have spoken with him about it. I genuinely think that Joe is capable of taking that jab away.

“If he can do that, Daniel doesn’t carry that concussive hurtful power. He is so, so strong but doesn’t carry that power up close in short mid-range.

“Joe will be horrible for him to fight, a bit like Dereck Chisora would be for Daniel. Joe doesn’t let you fight at your pace. It’s impossible to fight at your pace.”

Little who had a bad-blooded build up when he fought Dubois in an English title clash also warned that his old rival is in for shock when he lands clean on Joyce.

He said: “Hand on heart. I hit Joe on the side of the head with a shot that I would have thrown in a pub. I literally bent down, scratched my ankle and threw the shot.

“It was the sort of punch you’d throw on a punch ball machine on a booze up. I threw it with everything and he went back a little bit, but came straight firing back into me in the spar.

“Hurting him is going to be a problem for Daniel, but none of us are machines or robots.

“It is genuinely a fight where you look and you can make such a strong case for both.”

Dubois vs Joyce headlines a great night of boxing action, live on BT Sport 1 HD on November 28th.

On the undercard, highly-touted Ilford youngster Hamzah Sheeraz (11-0-0, 7KO’s) will defend his WBO European Super-Welterweight title against canny Spaniard Guido Nicolas Pitto (26-7-2, 8KO’s). Jack Catterall (25-0-0, 13KO’s) will take on the French-based Tunisian Abderrazak Houya (14-2-0, 2KO’s) in a 10 round Super-Lightweight contest ahead of his challenge for the WBO world title.

London Heavyweight David Adeleye (3-0-0, 3KO’s) returns to behind-closed-doors action for the third time when he battles Silsden’s Danny Whittaker (4-1-0).

Jack Massey (16-1-0, 8KO’s) returns to action in an 8 round Cruiserweight contest against a fearsome puncher from the UAE, Mohammad Ali Bayat Farid (16-1-1, 16 KO’s).

Joshua Frankham (1-0-0) will return to Super-Welterweight action, Louie Lynn (7-0-0, 6KO’s) will look to follow up his 2nd round TKO from the 25th July and Henry Wharton backed Heavyweight Mitchell Barton will make his long awaited pro-debut.