Daniel Dubois suffered the first defeat of his professional boxing career against fellow Brit Joe Joyce on November 28, 2020 and it was a painful one.
The exciting young unbeaten heavyweight (15-0 coming in) was knocked out in Round 10 of a gripping struggle, after taking a knee when an eye injury sustained became too serious to continue.
Dubois came into the bout as the 1/4 betting favourite with his big bombs having exploded on every opponent he had faced so far. But this time he came up against a giant of a man in Joyce, one with a granite chin.
The bout was held in the unusual and historic surroundings of Church House in Westminster, with only a small crowd allowed inside due to the ongoing COVID pandemic.
Quick Facts and Main Fight Report
Both men came in unbeaten – Dubois on 15-0 and Joyce on 11-0 but it was Dubois, an exciting mix of speed and power, who was expected to prevail. Not so fast though.
Joyce’s incredible chin took everything Dubois could throw at him, and all the while he was coming forward to throw a deceptively damaging ramrod left lead to soften up ‘Dynamite’.
Dubois came on strong in Round 7 but again he could not put a dent in Joyce, and all the time that left lead was causing more damage to the face of Daniel.
By Round 10 Dubois clearly had serious damage and his left eye was completely shut. Eventually he would take a knee to be counted out. It was a decision he would be criticised for by some experts on fight night, but unquestionably the right one. He would live to fight another day.
After the fight, medical checks would reveal that Dubois had suffered a fractured left orbital bone (broken eye socket), left medial orbital fractures, nerve damage, and retinal bleeding.
Essential fight report
How Dubois vs Joyce came together
This one was a really obvious bout to make – two unbeaten young British heavyweights bidding to move into the elite tier of the division. And both handled by the same Hall of Fame promoter in Frank Warren.
The stumbling block came down to finance with the lack of a sizeable live gate due to the pandemic restrictions. This one would have absolutely sold out the O2 in London had the opportunity been there.
But broadcaster BT Sport helped to make it happen, and the fight lived up the hype with a terrific showdown and a gripping conclusion.
Key coverage and original reports
- Dubois vs Joyce: date, time, odds, TV and live-stream details
- Dubois vs Joyce broadcast in more than 100 countries
Key coverage and original reports
- Dubois vs Joyce preview: strengths, weaknesses and the match-up
- Fight-week guide, preparations and official weigh-in information
Predictions, Tactics and Pre-Fight Controversy
Most of the experts had Dubois as the pre-fight winner here. He was seen by many as the future of the heavyweight division after current standard bearers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Joyce was more than a decade older than his opponent, but had the seasoning, the size and the power to really make this a proper challenge. His Olympic silver media from the 2016 Rio Games showed his ability to hang at the highest level.
We thought he had a great chin, and this fight potentially hinged on it. Could he defuse the threat posed by the explosive punching of Dubois? He absolutely could and it paved the way for an upset victory.
Key coverage and original reports
Press Conferences, Weigh-In and Fight Week
There was massive excitement in the build-up to this one. It was the first really big domestic fight in the UK since the COVID pandemic had started, and nothing sells like a big heavyweight dust-up.
Of course the build-up was not quite as big as it might have been due to those COVID restrictions.
At the official weigh-in, held in London on Friday November 27, 2020 – Dubois weighed 244lb and Joyce weighed 258lb 14oz.
Key coverage and original reports
- Official weights and final fight-week information
- Worldwide television coverage ahead of fight night
Fight Night: Result, Eye Injury and Undercard
There was shock that Dubois had lost his unbeaten record, and the aura of invincibility which surrounded him. But the manner of his loss was even more shocking.
He was accused of quitting in some quarters by the experts, but when confirmation of those serious eye injuries was announced, that line softened considerably. And rightly so, what else was Daniel supposed to do?
Taking a knee was the smartest of moves, he was not winning the fight from that position – blind in one eye and with serious damage which was only going to be made worse.
The undercard featured some fighters who would become huge names in the future, with young super-welterweight Hamzah Sheeraz and super-lightweight Jack Catterall both claiming wins.
Key coverage and original reports
Aftermath, Reactions and What Happened Next
Dubois would spend several months out of the ring as he rehabbed from surgery following those serious eye injuries. And he could come again, stronger as now a two-time world heavyweight champion.
Joyce would continue his relentless march towards the top of the division – showcasing his ability to withstand punishment and dish it out by knocking out Joseph Parker in an absolute barnstormer. Eventually though his rise would founder when he met a man bigger and even more powerful in the shape of Chinese giant Zhilei Zhang.
Joyce would lose twice in back-to-back fights against Zhang, and his dreams of a world title challenge were over.
Key coverage and original reports
- Joe Joyce rises in the WBC heavyweight rankings
- Frank Warren discusses Joyce’s next steps and Dubois’ return
- Dubois returns against Bogdan Dinu
- Retrospective: Frank Warren revisits Dubois’ serious eye injury
Dubois vs Joyce: Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce?
Joe Joyce defeated Daniel Dubois by knockout in round 10.
When and where did Dubois vs Joyce take place?
The fight took place on 28 November 2020 at Church House in Westminster, London, behind closed doors.
Why did Daniel Dubois take a knee?
Dubois took a knee after another jab landed on his badly swollen left eye. He was counted out, and a fractured eye socket was subsequently reported.
What titles were at stake?
The British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight titles were at stake.
How much did Dubois and Joyce weigh?
Dubois weighed 244lb and Joyce weighed 258lb 14oz at the official weigh-in.
Related Heavyweight Fight Guides
For more context, see Daniel Dubois’ professional boxing record.
