Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce finally have a date and a place for their all-British battle ahead of a shot at a world title.
The pair will collide on October 24 at London’s O2.
The contest was originally set for 11 July and was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but promoter Frank Warren is optimistic of the fight and hopeful that lockdown restrictions will be further eased in the next four months to permit fans into the O2.
Warren said: ‘It will be a fight to remember and what a boost for British boxing.
‘Everyone wants to see it. Lockdown has meant a delay, but we all want the fight to take place in October and we are hopeful that the government will give us the all clear.
‘What a position the winner will be in. They will be nailed on for a world title shot in 2021.’
22-year-old Dubois, who is ranked No 5 by the WBO and seven in the latest WBC ratings, looks favourite to win the British title and go on to a world title bid towards the end of next year or early 2022.
‘I’ll be ready to go in October for sure,’ Dubois said. ‘It has been tough during lockdown, but I have ticked over and I’m back in the Peacock gym helping my sparring partner Dorin Krasmaru get ready for his behind-closed-doors fight on Frank Warren’s bill on July 10.
‘Hopefully in the near future I will be able to get some good overseas sparring in. I’ll be ready for October 24, so I hope Joe is coming prepared.’
Foe Joyce, 34, won the Commonwealth title in just his fourth fight and his best win came against former WBC world champion Bermane Stiverne via a sixth-round KO in February 2019.
Joyce said: “It was great news to get the new date so I can finally punch up Dubois.
“Now gyms are open for athletes I can kick on and just keep my focus on the new date, finally settling the score with Dubois and moving on to a world title fight.”
British and Commonwealth champion Dubois has won all 14 of his professional bouts – all but one inside the distance – while Joyce, a Rio 2016 silver medallist, boasts a 10-0 record with nine stoppages.
