Veteran fighter Joyce defeats Dubois with 10th round stoppage

Joe Joyce has moved closer to a world title opportunity in 2021 after he stopped Daniel Dubois in the 10th round in the capital.

After three postponements this year due to the coronavirus pandemic the pair finally squared off at London’ s Church House, with Du bois’ s British title, Joyce’s Commonwealth crown and the vacant European belt at stake.

Joyce, 35, took all three titles after getting a jab through onto Dubois’s left eye which forced the younger fighter to take a knee early in the 10th and fail to answer the referee’s count.

Joyce’ s experience and composure shone through as he weathered an early storm from his opponent, who had finished his previous three bouts before the third round.

The discipline and jab of the older man, who won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, proved the difference with Dubois, 23, unable to see out of his left eye by the end of the fight after it was repeatedly targeted.

Meanwhile, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr fought to an unofficial draw as they turned back the clock in an exhibition bout in Los Angeles.

Former world heavyweight champion Ty son, 54, who has not boxed professionally for 15 years, shed an impressive six stones for the eight-round contest at the Staples Centre.

Jones, 51, struck his opponent with a straight left to the nose towards the end of the sixth round while Tyson connected with Jones’s body and head multiple times, with both fighters struggling for breath by the third round, in an event which raised money for various charities.

Jones, considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxer sin history, said afterwards Tyson’ s body shots “definitely took a toll”.

“It’s something to take the punches that Mike throws. I’m cool with a draw. Maybe we can do it again,” the slightly younger man said.

The lack of scoring led to claims from many observers, including fight promoter Frank Warren, that it was a meaningless sparring session between two past-it warriors.

On the undercard YouTuber Jake Paul knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson in the second round with an overhand right, while former dual-weight world champion Badou Jack comprehensively pounded previously unbeaten cruiserweight Blake McKernan.