Joe Joyce earned a stunning win over Daniel Dubois, causing a huge boilover with a 10th round knockout victory in their heavyweight clash in London.
A massive underdog heading into the bout, Joyce stayed at range, landing jab after jab to Dubois' left eye, which was punched completely closed by the sixth round.
Battered and bleeding, Dubois took a knee in the 10th round after being beaten to the punch by a phenomenally well-conditioned Joyce.
Dubois pawed at the injured eye, stepped back, dropped to his haunches and allowed referee Ian John Lewis to count him out, with Joyce claiming the European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.
The last punch. #DuboisJoyce #boxing pic.twitter.com/busUgWgQYv
— przemek garczarczyk (@garnekmedia) November 28, 2020
The cause of the TKO here thanks to a hard, consistent, jack hammer jab all night for Joe Joyce pic.twitter.com/6m4JfkafAf
— Tim - Boxeo 拳闘 Boxen бокс มวย Boks 拳击 Box (@TimBoxeo) November 28, 2020
It was an enjoyable fight while it lasted, with Joyce showing how important the absolute basics are even at the top level. His jab quickly became the story of the fight, causing Dubois' face to mark up in the opening couple of rounds.
At 35, Joyce didn't need to over-extend himself, and wasn't forced to. He displayed a tremendous gas tank and composure while sticking to the gameplan.
In the opposite corner, Dubois looked shell-shocked at being on the receiving end of so many left hands. He started most rounds swinging with power, but apart from a few moments early on, didn't look like troubling the Olympic silver medalist.
At just 23 years old, the fight was Dubois' biggest test of his 16-fight professional career. Seemingly destined for bigger and better things with a win, his lack of amateur experience was on full display. He'll be back, but needs more time to hone his craft.
The manner in which Dubois allowed himself to be counted out left many fight fans and pundits wondering whether he'd quit.
I know one thing Hughie fury had his eye cut open and vision gone from 2nd round but never quit. This was too early for for Dubois he quit this fight.
— peter fury, (@peterfury) November 28, 2020
Didn’t half enjoy that fight, Joyce’s chin in ridiculous. Thought Dubois boxed a great fight to, but, find it hard to think he did not quit, when you watch a ref count to 10 while on one knee, you choose to stay down. Hope he comes again but questions will always be asked of that
— Liam Smith (@LiamBeefySmith) November 28, 2020
Daniel Dubois quit tonight! #DuboisJoyce #Boxing
— Eric Kelly (@EricKelly) November 28, 2020
Did Dubois quit?#DuboisJoyce pic.twitter.com/6OugBcTY2r
— Marcus LosGreat (@glovesoffboxing) November 28, 2020
Dubois quit . Poor that was
— mark (@MarkWalters92) November 28, 2020
DANIEL DUBOIS VS JOE JOYCE - THE FIGHT
Joyce opened well, landing a flurry of jabs in the first round. The Juggernaut took the round, but the score was due to Dubois' inactivity as much as anything.
'Dynamite' burst out of the gates in the second round, landing big power punches and abruplty halting any momentum Joyce had started to build in the first.
Dubois started fast in the third too, but loaded up on his shots too much, looking stiff and ineffective. Joyce worked to re-establish his jab, but was visibly concerned about the power in Dubois' gloves.
It remained a contest between Joyce's jab and the threat of Dubois' power, with cuts and marks appearing all over Dubois' face.
Not finding any luck with his previous approach of walking forward and winging power shots, Dubois started utilising his jab in the fifth and actually landed a couple of nice right hands. Joyce's phenomenal chin kept him in it though and a bloody Dubois looked in some strife in the corner ahead of the sixth.
Dubois' left eye had completely closed by start of the seventh, and - has he'd done all fight - he came out swinging with bad intentions. But again, Joyce's chin held strong, allowing the 35-year-old to weather the storm, stay at range and work his jab.
Displaying a complete lack of head movement or defensive feints, Dubois was a one-eyed fighter with four rounds remaining. Meanwhile, after feeling Dubois' power on several occasions, Joyce looked the fitter man. His jab remained the telling factor in the bout as he managed to keep his distance.
Dubois dropped to his knee after taking another jab to the left eye in the opening moments of the 10th round.
He looked towards his corner but decided not to continue, handing Joyce a huge upset victory.