BOXER Joe Joyce is “heartbroken” his all-British heavyweight scrap against Daniel Dubois has been delayed.
The sporting calendar has been hit as the coronavirus pandemic rages the globe.
Joe Joyce has been left heartbroken at yet another fight being delayed – he takes on Daniel Dubois in July nowCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
Joe Joyce’s manager Sam Jones has opened up on the emotional and financial cost the coronavirus has broughtCredit: Getty Images – Getty
British Boxing announced that all their events would be postponed until April 30 at the earliest, with the board set to meet next month to see whether that is extended.
That put paid to Joyce’s mouthwatering fight against fellow-unbeaten Brit Dubois, with that being moved from April 11 to July 11.
And according to Joyce’s manager Sam Jones, it has left the Rio Olympics 20126 silver medallist devastated and will mean the Juggernaut has been out of action for almost a year.
Speaking to BonusCodeBets.co.uk Jones said: “Joe was absolutely heartbroken. He’s been out the ring since beating Bryant Jennings last July.
We are talking thousands and thousands of pounds and I’m not talking about small thousands – big thousands
Sam Jones, on the cost of Joyce’s training camp
“Since then, he had his Marco Huck fight cancelled in January, so he’s had two training camps now, peaked twice, and had no fight.
“It brought me to tears knowing how well Joe was doing, what had gone into camp, the sacrifices he had made, the cost of the sparring partners we’d brought in.
“The reality is we paid for flights for our team and the sparring partner from the UK.
“Then we were paying weekly for four US-based sparring partners. The UFC training facility, the very nice villa we were living in out in Vegas.
“We are talking thousands and thousands of pounds and I’m not talking about small thousands – big thousands – all invested into a camp that you can’t claim back because boxers are self-employed. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
When Joyce, 34, finally does go into battle in June against Dubois, he will head into that as the underdog.
It’s going to be a different date with the same result
Sam Jones adamant Joyce will win
But according to Jones, it will be his man who will move into world title reckoning with a victory.
He added: “It’s going to be a different date with the same result. Joe is going to stop Daniel Dubois. It’s going to be a car crash at the O2 arena and it’s only going to end one way.
“This is the biggest fight of Joe’s career, five or six belts on the line, the winner goes on to a guaranteed world title shot.
“The date has been pushed back but this fight will happen – the fans have demanded it.”
Jones went on to acknowledge that “there’s a lot worse things happening to people than this fight being cancelled” as the coronavirus continues to claims lives around the world.
He added: “Everyone is in the same boat, businesses are going to be affected by this.
“I feel terrible for people that are going to lose their job over something that is completely out of their control.
“When you take a step back, you also realise there are lots of people way less fortunate than you. “
Fans fear for Joe Joyce as Daniel Dubois shows off his explosive power in training ahead of all-British boxing showdown
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
