Dubois v Joyce - Fight Card Preview
The biggest all British affair of the year is almost upon us, as Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce finally lock horns on Saturday night.
Both men have been on each other’s radar from the outset, and are finally putting it all on the line at the weekend at the Church House, Westminster, London.
But before the big men start throwing bombs, there is a stellar undercard for fight fans to enjoy from the capital.
Mitchell Barton is set to make his professional debut, as he takes on Matt Gordon in a heavyweight contest. The 22-year-old Yorkshireman will be looking to get his career off to a flying start with an impressive victory over Gordon.
We have previously seen Gordon on our screens, when he was stopped by David Adeleye in two rounds. The highly rated Adeleye also features on the card, as he takes on Danny Whitaker in what looks on paper like a step up. Whitaker’s only loss came at the hands of Nick Webb, so Adeleye will be looking to put on an even more impressive display and to build towards putting his name into the British title mix in the not so distant future.
Adeleye has already been mixing it with the likes of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in sparring (Photo credit: Daily Star)
Also on the card is young Joshua Frankham, who takes on MJ Hall in just his second professional contest. The 21-year-old just made his debut in September, and is looking to stay active, which can only be a good thing. Hall has only been stopped 4 times, so Frankham could get some valuable rounds under his belt as he aims to progress as a super-welterweight.
Also in action is highly touted British featherweight, Louis Lynn. ‘Loco’ is currently 7-0 with six of his victories coming by way of knockout, and he will be looking to add to that tally come Saturday night, where he is up against Paul Holt in an eight round contest.
In what looks like a very competitive fight on paper, Jack Massey takes on Mohammad Ali Bayat Farid in a cruiserweight contest. Both men have 16 wins and one loss each, which promises to make for an interesting matchup. Massey will be looking to get back to winning ways, after almost a year out of the ring, since his unanimous decision loss to Richard Riakporhe back in December of last year. Although both records are similar, Massey will go into the fight as a massive favourite, as Farid’s record only has two victories over people with winning records.
Hamzah Sheeraz also features on this stellar undercard, as he takes on Guido Nicolas Pitto for the WBO European Super-Welterweight Title. Sheeraz hasn’t put a foot wrong yet as a pro, and has looked impressive each time he has graced our screens. He will again be hopeful of a quality performance on Saturday night, as he aims to progress up the 154-pound rankings.
Quite possibly the biggest name on the card, Jack Catterall, is also in action at the weekend. The 27-year-old is up against Abderrazak Houya, in what seems like a keep busy fight before a potentially massive 2021. ‘El Gato’ is the WBO mandatory challenger at super-lightweight, and has been patiently waiting for his chance to face the champion, José Ramírez.
However, there has been talk of Ramírez taking on Josh Taylor in a unification bout for all of the belts, in what is quite frankly a superfight. Catterall has already stated he is willing to step aside for that fight, as long as he is guaranteed the first shot at the winner of that unification.
Catterall is currently 25-0, and will be looking to extend that record this weekend (Photo credit: Boxing News)
Although this does seem to be a keep busy fight for the slick southpaw, Catterall cannot afford a slip up against a game opponent in Houya. The Frenchman has only tasted defeat twice in his career, winning 14 of his 16 fights. The undefeated Catterall will have to be wary of the 33-year-old, but will be hoping to get through this fight unscathed, looking good and setting himself up nicely for a shot at all of the marbles next year, if the unification fight between Taylor and Ramírez does indeed happen.
Now for the big one. Two undefeated wrecking balls. Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce finally settle their differences this weekend, as they face off for the European, British and Commonwealth titles.
After a long time in the making, Dubois and Joyce finally meet in the ring on Saturday night (Photo credit: Shropshire Star)
This is a fight that has really captured the imagination of the British public, and one which has been in the pipeline for over a year now. Ever since they turned professional, each man has had their eye on the other, knowing they would one day meet in the centre of that ring.
In Dubois, you have a young man who his tipped to be the next big thing in heavyweight boxing. At just 23-years-old, he has a long and potentially successful future ahead of him. Having said that, he has shown maturity beyond his age, and has destroyed every single opponent put in front of him, so matching ‘Dynamite’ has been a real problem.
The 15-0 superstar believes that come Saturday night, he will be getting his hand raised yet again. He told World Boxing News:
“I’m going to bring everything I’ve got in me and put it on him. Let’s see if he can handle it.
“I’m going to be unstoppable. I’m just rising up and up. This is the next step for me and I just know what I can do.”
On the opposite side of the ring to Dubois, you have Olympic silver medallist, Joe Joyce. Joyce turned pro just over three years ago, and has taken to the pro game like a duck to water. Having won the Commonwealth title in just his forth fight, Joyce has been looking for the big names from the get go.
At 35-year-old, 12 years the senior of Dubois, Joyce has far more experience as a boxer with his amateur pedigree and Rio 2016 Olympic silver medal. However, ‘The Juggernaut’ is still unexposed and fresh as a professional, having had just 11 fights and barely taking a punch, bar his fight with Bryan Jennings, which he still ultimately won convincingly.
Joyce firmly believes he will have too much for Dubois come fight night, as he told RingTV:
“This is my chance to show what I am made of and to progress to the next stage and get a shot to become heavyweight champion.”
Joyce’s manager, Sam Jones, unlike his fighter, has been everything but quiet in the build up to the fight. He believes his man will have far too much for Dubois, and that the 23-year-old will be handed the first defeat of his career at the weekend.
In the pre-fight ‘Gloves Off’ with BT Sport, he said:
“You’ve never been in a serious fight in your life, ever. Amateur or pro.
“Joe’s record… All winning records. From the outset, winning records. And it’s going to tell.”
Jones didn’t hold back with his thoughts, and said:
“You’re going to drown.”
Saturday promises to be a brilliant night of boxing, with great undercard action before a quite simply sensational main event.
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Date: Saturday November 28
Time: Ring walk approx. 10.30pm
Venue: Church House, Westminster, London