Joe Joyce staying focused on Daniel Dubois, talks potential fights with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Heavyweight Joe Joyce was supposed to be facing fellow unbeaten British standout Daniel Dubois in April, but that fight like every other meaningful fight through the month of May has been postponed at the very least, leaving the fighters sitting and waiting, with no certainty of when they’ll be back.

Joyce and Dubois, at least, do have a tentative rescheduled date of July 11 at London’s O2 Arena. That’s far from a guarantee in the coronavirus world that has put all sporting events on hold across the globe, but it’s there for now.

The 34-year-old “Juggernaut” was looking to score a win over the 22-year-old rising star, considered by many (or at least some) the top heavyweight prospect in the game right now, and then move on to big fights. He’s just 10 fights into his pro career, winning all of those bouts, nine by stoppage, but he’s in his mid-30s, turning pro late, and indeed even joining the fight game late at age 22, with a track and field career scrapped by injuries.

Joyce tells Sky Sports that he obviously remains focused on Dubois (14-0, 13 KO), but he also has some thoughts about potential future matchups with WBC and LINEAL!!!!!!! champion Tyson Fury, and WBA/WBO/IBF titleholder Anthony Joshua, either of which would be an all-UK showdown.

Joshua, of course, won gold at the 2012 Olympics, four years before Joyce’s controversial silver in 2016, so they’ve been in the ring together, and Joyce tells Sky he “used to love sparring with Joshua,” but that he respects AJ’s power enough to not want to slug it out with him if they do meet.

As for Fury, he rightly expects that the self-styled “Gypsy King” would want to out-box him, and he doesn’t feel Tyson could knock him out.

First, of course, is Dubois, and the younger man is the solid if not overwhelming betting favorite. Joyce has the greater amateur experience and roughly the same pro experience, really, but there is the thought that he’s a bit more one-dimensional. He can be a bit plodding in his approach, but he’s an absolute tank of a man, too, and Dubois can’t be expected to mow Joyce down the way he’s done pretty much everyone else.

It’s a terrific domestic matchup in British boxing, and a fight we’re all still looking forward to seeing play out.