Some points from tonight’s fight that future prospects should learn from.

[jameswilson]

I) Seasoning.

Before European title fight level you need to have gone 12 rounds against someone who extends you in some way. Heavyweights seem to like to use Kevin Johnson just to tick the 12 round box. Joe Joyce went 12 against Bryant Jennings and in the first took a hard body shot and had to persevere and lose rounds. In my opinion that was a huge edge once round 4 was out the way.

II) Known opponents.

Lartey. Fujimoto. Tetteh, had anyone genuinely heard of these guys before? Lartey got shown up against an English champ and I’ll be honest, that is his level. He was given too much credit for landing a few on Dubois. Joyce has obviously had to start fast because of his age but guys like Lewison and LeNroy Thomas were guys we knew were of a certain level. Even in their last fights Dubois miraculously gets an unheard of Dutch guy after an odd pullout. The Dutch guy was about 200lbs. Meanwhile Joyce is in with a 250lb lump.

Iii) sparring,

The guys alluded to this a bit at the end. Joyce we know was sparring with Bakole and having wars by all accounts. He seems to invest in his camp. I’ve seen on here and in the press the camps that David Haye and Tyson Fury have set up at great expense. I’m not sure Dubois was sparring consistently with top level guys.

I’v) WBSS.

What do we reckon. We’re the fights against Usyk, Hrgovic useful experience for this fight?

V) Joyce’s speed being overstated.

Joyce is slow let’s make no bones about it. But his jab clearly isn’t. He won the jab exchanges and for a lot of the fight was on the front foot. Joyce’s incredible chin and strength (he was walking Dubois back whenever there was a clinch) ended up more of a factor. I think Dubois landed more power shots and yet Joyce’s face was unmarked and he sat in the corner between rounds barely breathing heavy while Dubois face looked like roadkill in the end, just off the jab. Joyce’s jab clearly is fast enough and bloody hard.




What other points do people have?

Bottom line, what an epic fight. From the moment this was announced to tonight I’ve loved it.