Joyce stopped Dubois in a memorable clash back in 2020. His jab proved to be the key weapon, damaging Dubois' eye and leading to a 10th round knockout. Two years later, Joyce imposed himself on the durable Joseph Parker, securing an 11th round stoppage victory.
Since then, Joyce's career has hit a rough patch. He suffered two stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang in 2023. Now, he's looking to rebuild, with his next fight scheduled for March 1 against an unnamed opponent.
Despite his recent setbacks, Joyce remains a keen observer of the heavyweight division. He shared his thoughts on the Dubois-Parker matchup in an interview with FightHype:
"I'm excited to see it. Obviously Dubois hits hard, he's stepped up. Parker as well, they have both come along and been in big fights. I'm excited to see who gets the win. Both have different attributes but may the best man win."
Joyce pointed out that both fighters have grown since their bouts with him. He emphasized Dubois' punching power and Parker's big-fight experience as key factors to watch.
The fight, scheduled for February 22, will see Dubois defend his IBF World Heavyweight Title against Parker. Dubois seems to be brimming with confidence, having entered the ring to call out Oleksandr Usyk after the Ukrainian's second victory over Tyson Fury in late December.
Joyce cautioned that Parker will need to be wary of Dubois' knockout power. At the same time, he acknowledged that both fighters bring different strengths to the table, setting up an intriguing clash.
As the only man to have beaten both Dubois and Parker, Joyce's analysis adds an extra layer of intrigue to this heavyweight showdown. Fight fans will be eager to see if his insights play out when the two step into the ring on February 22.