If anyone knows Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois well, it’s Joe Joyce.
The British heavyweight has had the pleasure of sharing the ring with both fighters and had different results.
Joyce defeated Dubois in November 2020 after ‘Dynamite’ was counted out in the 10th round, but when he faced Usyk as an amateur in 2013, the Ukrainian won via unanimous decision.
Both are vying to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world when Usyk faces Dubois on 19 July, but Joyce thinks that one has the upper hand when it comes to their punching power.
Daniel Dubois is a better puncher than Oleksandr Usyk, claims Joe Joyce
Despite claiming victory over Dubois, Joyce remembers the power of his punches more than Usyk’s.
Speaking about the fight to TalkSPORT, he said: “They’ve all kind of hit me the same. I remember Dubois, though.
“My face after the fight was like ‘ahh’. His punches… even though he didn’t have the time to set his feet and really settle into his shots. He’s got just raw, thudding, natural power.”
However, back in 2023, it seemed as if the 2016 Olympic silver medalist wasn’t fazed by Usyk.
“I remember when we fought, it was like stinging power – it wasn’t thudding,” he told Queensbury Promotions.
“I could feel the punches. You know like slaps, they’re more stinging? Faster and more stinging. But I guess now he’s put on more size, so they’ll be more thudding and he’s knocked out people.”
Daniel Dubois doesn’t think about first Usyk fight anymore
Usyk has been tipped to repeat the 2023 result in Wroclaw and defeat Dubois for a second time, with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez betting $500k on Usyk to win.
The controversy of ‘The Cat’s’ victory against Dubois two years ago still remains a talking point, but the 27-year-old claims he has moved on.
“I don’t want to keep going back to that [2023] fight because that wasn’t me at my best. I landed one good shot but that weren’t my best shot. You’re going to see the difference on 19 July,” he told The Telegraph.
“That first fight is behind me now. It’s just a memory and I’m a man of the future. I’ve got to stamp my authority on this division.”