Boxing

JOE JOYCE jabbed Daniel Dubois into submission to walk away with the British, Commonwealth and European belts.
Dubois’ was counted out in the heavyweight headliner after taking a knee in round ten with his left eye worryingly swollen.

Joe Joyce left Daniel Dubois beaten into submissionCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun

Dubois, 23, was ahead on two of the three judges’ cards when the fight was stopped, but he was slowly unpicked by a masterful, measured performance as Joyce pulled off the upset.
Here, SunSport tells the story of the fight.
ROUND 1
Dubois lands the first telling shot of the fight with a big over the top.
But Joyce is making his mark with a ramrod jab, constantly picking DDD off.

Joyce shoots the jab down to the body every now and then and ends the round with a good right hand.

Joyce made his mark with a ramrod jab early on Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
ROUND 2
Dubois comes out much more aggressively.
He lands with a big right hand, but the follow up left hook just misses.
Dubois closing the distance much better and lands another right hand to stamp his authority.

Dubois came out much more aggressively in round two Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
ROUND 3
Couple of big one-two combinations find home for Dubois, who is on the front foot.
DDD jabbing better and a left hook lands clean.
Joyce’s jab improves as the round draws to a close, a very consistent shot that keeps Dubois at range.

Dubois lands with a big right hand over the top Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun

ROUND 4
Dubois lands with a big one-two, but the uppercut grazes past the target.
Joyce lunges in with a rear hand as he comes forward but his jab can’t miss as DDD looks unable to slip it.
Big right hand lands at the end for DDD, whose eye is starting to show damage.

Joyce lands yet another clean jab on Dubois Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
ROUND 5
Pace is evidently slowing, as Dubois has put a lot into his power punching whereas Joyce has been relaxed with an educated jab.
DDD lands another good right hand but can’t pounce and follow it up.
Joyce’s jab has been the difference in the round again and the underdog has proven to have a good chin.

Dubois struggled to follow up his attacks Credit: Getty Images – Getty
ROUND 6
Dubois coming forward but walks right into a counter rear hand.
A good left hook lands for DDD and as the two come into a clinch, he clips Joyce with a right hook.
Joyce ends the round tripling up the jab which Dubois seems incapable of defending.

Dubois and Joyce come together Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
ROUND 7
Big right hand for Dubois, but he misses with an uppercut.
Joyce finds home with a right hand to the body but DDD responds with a one-two combination.
Clean one-two from Joyce lands to close out another round – Dubois’ eye looks closed.

Joyce finds home with a right hand to the bodyCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
ROUND 8
Joyce continues to pump out his excellent jab and lands a short right hand.
Dubois is coming forward but is struggling to get past Joyce’s jab.
Big right hand misses from DDD who is sensing he needs to put a dent in his opponent.

Joyce continues to pump out his excellent jab and lands a short right handCredit: Getty Images – Getty
ROUND 9
Good round for Joyce but DDD with the more eye-catching moments throughout this fight so far.
Joyce stabbing the jab over and over, turning Dubois’ left eye blue, but Dubois is still having spurts of energy.
DDD begins to look little more laboured, with Joyce moving well on the back foot with his jab.

Dubois’ eye looks severely swollen Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
ROUND 10
Fight is over as Joyce lands a neat jab right on the target.
DDD takes a step back before dropping to a knee, where he fails to beat the count.
Dubois, for the first time in his career, beaten into submission with his eye severely swollen.

Dubois takes a knee and fails to beat the count Credit: Richard Pelham – The Sun More

DANIEL DUBOIS was FIVE rounds up on one of the judges scorecards against Joe Joyce.
And another had him winning by one, with the third having Joyce ahead by three.

Daniel Dubois was five rounds up on one of the judges scorecards against Joe JoyceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Dubois was five rounds ahead on judge John Latham’s card

But it mattered little, as Dubois was stopped in round ten after failing to beat the count.
His eye was left badly battered thanks to a masterclass in jabbing from Joyce.
And, in the tenth, a left from Joyce landed right on the Dubois’ swollen eye, forcing Dubois to take a knee.
But the 23-year-old stayed down, and as a result lost for the first time as a professional.

After the defeat, he was taken to hospital with his team fearing he has suffered nerve damage or a cracked orbital bone.
Joyce on the other hand celebrated winning the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight belt.

Joyce stopped Dubois in round ten of the heavyweight headliner Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Dubois’ eye was left completely shut after the loss Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

He said: “I took some big shots, respect to Daniel, he’s got power, he’s hungry and young and he’ll come again.
“I felt his power and I was happy to take it… but I preferred to not take it.

“I started looking at the eye and it was swelling up, I was moving away from his right hand, trying not to get backed up.”
Joyce also inherited Dubois’ WBO No2 ranked position and called out current mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

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JOE JOYCE shut up his critics and Daniel Dubois’ eye with a masterclass performance of jabbing and freakish resilience.
The 35-year-old Juggernaut walked through ten rounds of heavy shots from the 23-year-old powerhouse, but broke his spirit and forced him down and out after 30 minutes.

Joe Joyce battered Daniel Dubois into submission, scoring a tenth round winCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Dubois failed to beat the eight count after suffering heavy damage to his eyeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Despite his 2012 Olympic silver medal, Joyce was made the underdog against the 15-0 untested wonderkid.
And he used all his Team GB textbook skills and his famous granite chin to batter Dubois into submission with only his arrowlike left hand.
The 6ft 6in gentleman landed the British, Commonwealth and European titles and catapulted himself into world title contention in 2021.
Dubois went straight to hospital after the bruising defeat, with fears of nerve damage or a cracked orbital bone.

Joyce constantly pawed out a jab throughout the opener, Dubois’ was less frequent but more punishing.

Joe Joyce is now in line for a potential world title fight nextCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Daniel Dubois had some good moments early on, but was hindered by an eye injury
Dynamite Dan punished one weak punch with a chopping left hook that woke Joyce up. But the 6ft 6in Putney giant clipped the Greenwich youngster with a one-two.
Dubois launched into the second with menace, another piston-like left rocked Joyce’s head back and a right hand really wobbled him, forcing the 35-year-old into holding and grabbing on for balance.
Dubois peppered the famous Joyce chin with another one-two but the fine art uni graduate brushed off the assault and scored back with the jab he honed on the Team GB squad in Sheffield, where he did thousands of rounds with Anthony Joshua before their Olympic charges.

Dubois had 19-year-old sister and Olympic youth champion Caroline shouting herself hoarse with encouragement, ordering big bro to slip Joyce’s jab better.

Dubois threw some big shots at Joyce, but failed to wobble his teak-tough opponentCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Two more straight power punches landed from Dubois in the fourth but Joyce’s jab got him back in control of the rounds – and had blind mum Marvel cheering and whopping on the opposite balcony at hearing her son work his way back from a slow start.
Dubois’ left eye was closing by the fifth after 15 minutes on the end of Joyce’s white-gloved left fist.
But it was the younger, shorter man unloading the booming punches that had the best chance of ending the night early.
Trainer Martin Bowers used all of his experience to work on Dubois’ closing left eye at the end of the sixth and the pummelled peeper was now a handy target for Joyce.

As the fight wore on Dubois’ eye got worse and worseCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
As soon as the sixth started, Dubois thundered half a dozen shots into Joyce’s skull, crunching right hands and looping uppercuts landed but Joyce barely winced and returned fire.
With Dubois clinging to his eyesight and undefeated record, Bowers roared in his East London accent: “This is the fight game son, and you are in it!”
But the right hand Joyce again absorbed – like a peck on the cheek – showed he had the heart for the darkest of battles.
At the start of the week, Joyce’s camp was rocked with the news trainer Ismael Salas had tested positive and was booted out of the fight hotel.

Referee Ian John Lewis ended the fight in the tenth round with Dubois unwilling to fight onCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Dubois knew the game was up as he suffered his first ever defeatCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The gameplan to beat Dubois looked in tatters, but assistant Steve Broughton and British boxing legend Jimmy Tibbs took over the corner and executed the mission perfectly.
Throughout the ninth, Joyce could not miss with his jab and landed his first real right hand of the night.
It was the veteran’s best round as he finally unleashed some backhanders after semi-blinding his rival with punches that appeared, from 15ft away, to do no damage.

It was party time for Joe Joyce’s mum and family as the Juggernaut upset the oddsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Dubois took a knee in the 10th when a jab hit him right on the bullseye of a bruise that had grown over his face, failing to beat the count from referee Ian John Lewis.
Joyce can now target clashes with old amateur rival Oleksandr Usyk and sparring partners Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
While Dubois and his mangled eye must repair and rebuild for a return to the most exciting boxing division.

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JOE JOYCE looks set to face Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO heavyweight world title after sensationally stopping Daniel Dubois.
The Juggernaut out-jabbed and out-thought his younger opponent and ended the fight with a jab to the eye that floored Dubois.

Joe Joyce is in line for a world title shot nextCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Joyce used all his experience to batter Dubois into submissionCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Triple D’s eye had gradually closed throughout the fight, and he’d clearly had enough as referee Ian John Lewis waved it off in the tenth round.
And Joyce’s reward for the stunning victory could be a straight shootout against Usyk – with the biggest of rewards for the victor.
Speaking after his sensationally success, undefeated Joyce called out the Ukrainian.

Oleksandr Usyk outpointed Dereck Chisora in his toughest test at heavyweight last time outCredit: Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd
The 35-year-old looked into the camera and said: “Usyk, Usyk, I’m ready for you Usyk.”

Anthony Joshua is the current holder of the WBO strap – but he is looking increasingly likely to vacate to set up a Battle of Britain against WBC King Tyson Fury.
Usyk automatically became the WBO mandatory after unifying the cruiserweight division.
Joyce’s win over Dubois puts him next in the rankings behind Usyk and a golden ticket for a chance of world honours.
AJ defends his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev on December 12 and, if successful, has targeted a unification clash with WBC king Fury.

Anthony Joshua could vacate the WBO belt to chase the Fury fightCredit: PA

Tyson Fury says he has already ‘agreed’ two fights with Joshua for 2021Credit: Reuters

Fury had his hopes of defending his belt next month scuppered and is still in a wrangle with WBC chiefs over his contracted trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
That has provided a new issue for the heavyweight division going into 2021 – but Ukrainian Usyk is refusing to remain patient as he chases his shot at Joshua.
The 33-year-old outpointed Chisora last month in his most bruising fight in the heavyweight division so far.
The money on offer, as well as the legacy that would be secured with a win against Fury, could well lead Joshua to relinquish the WBO belt.

Joe Joyce goes airborne to celebrate his stunning win against DuboisCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Dubois could not see out of a badly-damaged left eyeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

DANIEL DUBOIS was left fighting with one eye after his left CLOSED in a shock defeat to Joe Joyce.
And former world champ Carl Frampton said Dubois “quit” when he took a knee and was counted out in the tenth round.

Daniel Dubois was left fighting with one eye after his left closed as Joe Joyce peppered him with jabCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Joyces jab proved to be too constant and powerful for Dubois Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

It was later revealed Dubois had to be rushed to hospital with his team fearing he has suffered nerve damage or a cracked orbital bone.
Joyce consistently stuck a solid ramrod jab into the face of Dubois, with the damage evident.
DDD’s eye appeared completely shut despite the best efforts of his corner team in trying to bring down the swelling.
Although he landed the heavier shots, especially with the one-two, Joyce’s jab was a constant threat.

And it proved to be the deciding factor as a Joyce left landed right on Dubois’ left eye in round ten.
It was so damaging that Dubois took a knee, but was counted out.
After the loss Dubois’ eye looked severely swollen with Joyce on the other hand left undamaged.
The 35-year-old inherited the British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight title.

And he took Dubois unbeaten record and WBO No2 ranking.
Afterwards, BT Sports pundit Carl Frampton said: “I think that we all like Dubois, he’s a likeable guy.

“But if it’s someone we didn’t like wed say he’s a quitter. And I think he quit there.
“I have to be brutally honest, let’s call a spade a spade, he took a knee from a shot in the eye.
“His eye was a mess, his eye was closed but I get dragged out of the ring. I wouldn’t take a knee and get pulled out.”
Joyce later called out Oleksandr Usyk in his post-fight interview, mocking the Ukrainian’s “USSSSSYYYYKKKK” shout. More

DANIEL DUBOIS had to be rushed to hospital over fears for his horror swollen eye.
Dynamite lost in a ten-round thriller to Joe Joyce when he was counted out after taking a knee because of the damage.

Daniel Dubois was rushed to hospital over fears for his swollen eyeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Joe Joyce scored a shock win after targeting Dubois’ left eye throughout the fightCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Joyce continued to target his left eye, which had been a problem from round two.
By the end of the fight his eye was completely closed and ultimately caused Dubois to give in.
It was later revealed that Dubois was rushed to hospital for standard neurological tests, before being taken onto Moorfields – a specialist eye hospital in east London.
Despite the heavy damage, former world champion Carl Frampton was not impressed with how Dubois finished the fight,

Speaking on BT Sport, Frampton ssaid: “I think that we all like Dubois, he’s a likeable guy.
“But if it’s someone we didn’t like wed say he’s a quitter. And I think he quit there.

Joyce celebrates his stunning win – which should catapult him to world levelCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Dubois, 23, is feared to have suffered nerve damage or a broken orbital boneCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Dubois took a knee in the tenth round before he was counted outCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

“I have to be brutally honest, let’s call a spade a spade, he took a knee from a shot in the eye.
“His eye was a mess, his eye was closed but I get dragged out of the ring. I wouldn’t take a knee and get pulled out.”

Joyce later called out Oleksandr Usyk in his post-fight interview, mocking the Ukrainian’s “USSSSSYYYYKKKK” shout. More