Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce’s heavyweight Battle of Britain rescheduled for October 24

Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce finally have a date and a place for their battle for British heavyweight supremacy and a future world title challenge.

The pair will collide on October 24 at London‘s 02 arena.

The 22-year-old Dubois will go in as favourite to win the British title and go on to a wold title bid towards the end of next year or early 2022.

Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce’s heavyweight clash has been rescheduled for October 24

Both he and silver Olympian Joyce have stayed in training despite their original July date being scotched by the coronavirus pandemic.

Promoter Frank Warren is hopeful that lockdown restrictions will be further eased in the next four months to permit fans into the 02.

Government guidelines will continue to be strictly followed.

Joyce (10-0, 9 KOs) and Dubois (14-0, 13 KOs) are within touching distance of a world title challenge and the winner will be in line to land a mandatory contender’s position with one of the major governing bodies, as well as adding the vacant EBU European Heavyweight Championship to their trophy cabinets.

The British heavyweights were due to meet earlier this year before the coronavirus pandemic

Frank Warren is hopeful restrictions will be further eased to permit fans into the 02

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.’ Dubois, 22, who is ranked No 5 by the WBO and seven in the latest WBC ratings said: ‘I’ll be ready to go in October for sure.

‘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. 

Dubois, who highly ranked by governing bodies, will head into the fight as the firm favourite 

Silver Olympian Joyce says he has kept in good shape and is relishing chance to punch Dubois

The London man aims to top that victory when he tackles Dubois and doesn’t mince his words when discussing his young opponent.

‘It was great news to get the new date so I can finally punch up Dubois,’ said the Putney man who is already highly ranked by the WBC.

Joyce is ready to rev up his training and added: ‘Obviously once lockdown started I had a good idea we wouldn’t meet in July, but I was always staying on top of training.

‘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.’