Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce: Five areas fight will be won and lost as David Haye and Andy Lee break down two rivals

DANIEL DUBOIS has the youth, speed and British and Commonwealth titles.

Joe Joyce has the experience, size and an Olympic silver medal.

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On Saturday the pair clash to decide the newest threat to the heavyweight world titles.

Dynamite Dubois, 23, would have time to rebuild his career, if he felt defeat for the first in his pro run, but what toll would a loss have on such a young mind?

Joyce, 35, will tumble down the reckoning if his pro run hits the buffers against a wonderkid 12 years his junior.

The promoters and broadcaster insist we won’t see a 12-round chess match. Armchair pundits churn out ‘Dubois early or Joyce late’ predictions.

But where do two experienced former world champions think this colossal fight is won and lost?

Former cruiser and heavyweight king David Haye discussed the fight with former middleweight champ Andy Lee, for BT Sport.

POWER

David Haye: A lot of Daniel’s finishes come from that right hand, it’s his signature punch and every opponent will fear it.

Joe does not have knockout power but he is a spiteful fighter, he wants to do damage.

Joyce has made a good career out of throwing lots of punches, they bludgeon you, they cut you and break you down.

Andy Lee: The obvious thing with Dubois is his right hand, his power, but he also has a very good left hook.

EXPERIENCE

Haye: I signed Joe straight after the Olympics, he was a fantastic prospect and sparring against good quality opposition showed me he was the real deal.

They sparred a little bit on Team GB but I don’t think those rounds will mean much, even psychologically. Joyce was a very different fighter and they had big gloves and headguards.

Lee: The level of previous opponents is very different, Joyce has boxed Bryant Jennings, Alexander Ustinov and Bermane Stiverne, a former world champion. And that is very different to what Dubois has done and that should give Joyce confidence.

JAB

Haye: Dubois uses his jab to dictate the distance but it is also a real weapon, I have seen him buzz people with that jab alone.

People usually feel that jab, for the first time in a fight, and think ‘I dread to think what the right hand feels like’.

Lee: If Dubois can keep Joyce at the end of his jab it will set him up for the right hand.

But it’s a heavy jab and, if Joyce can step off or slip that, he could find success with his own right hand. So it will be interesting to see how much Daniel commits to that jab.

Joyce jabs to the body and moves, and that will cause Dubois problems.

He will keep Dubois on his heels, if he jabs to the body it will create opportunities to the head.

CHIN

Haye: I have seen Joe hit with almighty right hands and he has always brushed them off.

Joyce will be able to absorb some of these shots, his chin is granite. He will try to keep it long and control it at a distance. Dubois will want it close, in a phone box.

I like the fact that Daniel likes to mix it, it might not be the best move tactically, but it tells me he also has confidence in his chin.

Lee: There is also a good defensive element to Dubois’ power shots because he covers his chin so well with his shoulder as he throws.

He rarely leaves his chin truly exposed, it is almost always protected as he throws.

PLAN

Haye: Not many heavyweights throw a lot of body shots because of their heights. Mike Tyson used to throw great hooks to the body and Daniel reminds me a bit of Tyson.

The left hook to the body will be key in this fight because the only time I have ever seen Joyce hurt was from a left hook to the body from Bryant Jennings.

Daniel and his team will know that, so Joe’s team needs to be ready for that and he better have done a lot of abdominal conditioning.

Dubois will need to earn Joyce’s respect, a big right hand would do that and if he doesn’t then Joe will just overpower him. I have never seen another heavyweight have the stamina to throw as many punches as Joe can over 12 rounds.

Joe needs to avoid inside trading. and hope the younger man gets desperate and makes mistakes.

Lee: Joyce is very awkward and has an unorthodox style and it will suit Joe to go on the front foot and apply pressure to make Dubois fight at a pace he never has before.

I would tell Joe to use his jab and make Dubois fight during the breaks, when Dubois is trying to rest or reset, break up his rhythm. Attack at the end of each exchange and don’t let Dubois settle.

Daniel has to set a fast pace, if Joe tries to box. If Joyce wants to start fast then Dubois should try to land that right hand, attack and chase him.

If Dubois can keep Joyce at the end of his jab it will set him up for the right hand.

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BT Sport’s night of heavyweight boxing action on 28th November begins with Daniel Dubois v Joe Joyce on BT Sport 1 from 7:30pm. Tyson v Jones Jr. will be live on BT Sport Box Office from 1am and can be watched on BT TV, Virgin TV, Sky, online via the web or the BT Sport Box Office App. To order both fights visit btsport.com/boxing

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