Joe Joyce insists a rematch with Daniel Dubois is “an attractive option”.
Joyce handed Dubois a first professional defeat when he beat him in 2020.
Dubois was counted out after sustaining serious damage in that bout with Joyce, but he has subsequently gone on to become a two-time heavyweight world champion, with wins over Anthony Joshua and Fabio Wardley to his name.
Joyce himself won a WBO Interim heavyweight title, excelling when he dominated Joseph Parker too.
But back to back losses to Zhilei Zhang derailed him and the now 40 year old Joyce has also been beaten by Filip Hrgovic and Derek Chisora in his two most recent bouts.
The Briton is now looking to get his career back on track when he fights unbeaten opponent Artem Suslenkov on the Murat Gassiev vs Tony Yoka undercard in Moscow on July 11 and wants eventually to return to world level. He would like a rematch with Dubois, who now holds the WBO heavyweight world title.
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Former Olympic heavyweight gold medallist Audley Harrison has urged exciting prospect Moses Itauma not to rush into a World title fight with Daniel Dubois.
“It’s always an attractive option,” Joyce told Sky Sports. “Before I took Zhang, which was obviously a bad decision, I was WBO Interim [champion] off the back of beating Dubois and Parker. So it’s just like a bit of a mistake that I’m going to rectify now.”
Those hopes would be snuffed out if he lost to Suslenkov. “I’ve got to deal with what’s in front of me first before looking too far ahead,” Joyce said.
“The motivation is getting the win and getting back in there and putting in a dominant performance.
“I’ve made some changes and I’m training hard and getting ready for that fight.”
He is adamant he can shrug off the year of inactivity.
“It’s just boxing,” Joyce said. “I’ve been training, I’ve been learning this year, I’ve been putting in the work so I’m ready to show you what I’ve learned.”
