Dubois vs Joyce on TV not PPV, set for November 28

Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce will provide a pre-Christmas treat for BT Sport subscribers with the announcement that it WILL NOT be a pay-per-view TV show after all and will take place on Saturday November 28.

Promoter Frank Warren made the announcement on Tuesday that the fight will be available to BT Sport subscribers at no extra cost.

Warren had endured several false starts in his bid to stage the bout. COVID-19 had scuppered every attempt to hold the crowd in front of a live gate.

But last week he announced that the fight would now go ahead behind closed doors.

Warren praised both fighters and their teams for enabling the eagerly-awaited scrap to happen this year.

At that stage though it had still been expected the bout would be a pay-per-view on BT Sport Box Office.

Warren’s latest announcement though provides great news for boxing fans in the UK.

The meeting of two exciting unbeaten British heavyweights had virtually sold out the O2 Arena before the first cancellation in April. And the planned match has created huge interest.

The 23-year-old Dubois is seen as a future star by many experts. He has built up a perfect 15-0 record (14 inside distance).

Joyce meanwhile is also unbeaten at 11-0 (10 inside) but also 35 years of age and in a hurry.

A delighted Warren said: “This is about keeping boxing alive and relevant at a tough time and doing something for the fans.

“We have moved heaven and earth to put this on as a BT Sport subscription Fight Night instead.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to BT Sport for being willing to make this happen.”

Stacked heavyweight schedule

The showdown adds to a stacked heavyweight schedule as we move towards the end of 2020.

It all starts with Oleksandr Usyk vs Dereck Chisora on Saturday October 31.

Then Dillian Whyte rematches with Alexander Povetkin on November 21.

Dubois vs Joyce comes next a week later before Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev on December 12.

There remains the possibility too that Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 can happen before the end of the year.

Warren has said that whoever wins the big November 28 showdown will be on course for a world-title shot in the near future.