Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
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With his long-awaited fight with Daniel Dubois approaching, Joe Joyce has addressed the elephant in the room: The 12-year age gap between the two heavyweight prospects.
Both Dubois and Joyce are regarded as potential world champions with similar degrees of professional fight experience. In fact, 23-year-old Dubois has had more bouts at this level than the 35-year-old Joyce, who remained in the amateurs until aged 31 and won a silver medal at super heavyweight in the 2016 Olympics.
In an interview with World Boxing News, Joyce, who heads into the Nov. 28 main event in Westminster, England, as the underdog, insisted that he and Dubois are evenly matched.
“I don’t feel that old because I only started in the game at the age he is now,” he said. “I feel like I haven’t been in the sport that long and that I have quite a few years ahead of me. But, yeah, this is a big fight and it is a big ladder to the top or a snake where I would have to rebuild.
“So the loser will have to rebuild a little bit, and Daniel has got time more on his side because he is a young pup who would definitely be able to come back. I’d be able to come back too, but I don’t plan to do that.”
The heavyweight scene has slowly returned to life over the last five years following a distinct lack of depth and box office appeal during the decade of dominance by the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.
With two other Brits currently holding all the gold — Anthony Joshua defends his titles against Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12 while beltholder Tyson Fury is expected to return to action in 2021 — and other contenders jockeying for position, defeat will likely be a considerable setback for whichever of the two loses their “0” on fight night.
“This is my chance to show what I am made of and to progress to the next stage and get a shot to become heavyweight champion,” Joyce said. “That is the route I am going. My aim before was to get to the Olympics and win a medal, so I completed that, although it was meant to be the gold medal and that didn’t happen.
“As a professional, I want to be world champion, and this is the route I need to go down and Dubois is standing in my way right now.”
It will be the first time as a professional that Joyce is the underdog. And he’s OK with that.
“I am not under any pressure because, according to the bookies, Daniel has already won,” he said. “He has made a big name for himself, and he has got the pressure to deliver.
“I don’t know why, but it is OK because it will be better when I beat him, because I will take his scalp.”
An eliminator for the WBO heavyweight strap is a possible prize for the victor.
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