Carl Frampton believes Daniel Dubois “quit” as he lost his unbeaten professional record in stunning fashion to Joe Joyce in London on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old Dubois was 15-0 and seen as the future of the heavyweight division when he went into this massive domestic clash with the 35-year-old Joyce (11-0) at Church House in Westminster.
But things did not go according to plan as the 3/1 underdog Joyce dealt with everything Dubois could throw at him. And all the while he was gradually closing Dubois’ left eye with a punishing left jab.
By round 10 the fight was still close but Dubois was in trouble courtesy of that eye injury. And one final spearing shot from Joyce was enough to make ‘Dynamite’ take a knee as referee Ian John Lewis counted him out.
Frampton: I think he quit here
Former two-weight world champion Frampton, a ringside analyst for broadcaster BT Sport, was unimpressed by the ending, but believes Dubois can still come again.
He said: “We all like Dubois, he’s a likeable guy, but if it’s someone we didn’t like we’d say it’s a quit. 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.
“I had Dubois a point up at the time of the stoppage. it was a close fight. You have to call it what it is, Dubois quit. But he’s a young kid and he can still come back. And hopefully Joe can go on now and fight for a world title.”
"I was very unhappy with the way he took a knee."
"I think he quit there! Dubois can still come back!"@RealCFrampton and @DavidHaye have their say on the #DuboisJoyce stoppage. pic.twitter.com/V4GifwavaB
— Boxing on BT Sport ???? (@BTSportBoxing) November 28, 2020
Former world heavyweight champion David Haye was also unimpressed by the manner of Dubois’ defeat.
“I had him winning on the card until round 6. He needed to relax,” he said.
“I was very unhappy with the way he took a knee. Took a shot to the eye, obviously it’s very painful – as Bowers said, it’s the hurt game. I never like seeing a fighter take a knee. I’d rather get knocked spark out.”
