Photo: BT Sport
The 12-round battle will be broadcast live on BT Sport Box Office pay-per-view in the UK.
After winning nine championship titles inside just 41 rounds of action, the match-up with Joyce (10-0) offers a stern test for Dubois. But the fledgling heavyweight insists it will see him produce his best performance to date:
“This is the biggest fight of my career without doubt. This will be the fight that announces me to the world.
“I think I am better than Joe in every department. I have a better jab, I have better movement, I have more power. The only thing Joe has over me is experience, but he’s never boxed anyone as young and as hungry as me.
“This will be the most devastating performance of my career.”
Both made their professional debuts in 2017 but Joyce, 12 years Dubois’ senior, holds the significant experience. The Juggernaut’s decorated amateur career has included gold in both the 2014 Commonwealth and 2015 European Games and a silver in the Rio Olympics.
“This is a massive fight there’s no denying that,” said Joyce. There’s a lot on the line on both sides but experience is something you can’t buy and I’ve got tonnes of it and I believe it’ll play a huge factor in this fight.”
But Dubois (14-0) heads into the clash labelled ‘seek and destroy,’ as the betting favourite despite only a handful of senior amateur bouts. The 22-year-old is widely considered the frontrunner of the emerging heavyweight mix, blowing 13 out of his 14 opponents away in devastating fashion.
Promoter Frank Warren said:
“People always talks about wanting the best to fight the best. “It is a fight that needed to be made to see which man is ready to challenge the elite at the top end of the division and which one will reset and go again.
“This is one both men could easily have avoided and navigated a less perilous route to the top, but they want to get it on and give the fans what they want to see.
“The contrast in styles will be fascinating, Daniel being a classic banger, with strong fundamentals and a ramrod jab that gets better all the time. Joe has got a style all of his own and comes at his opponents relentlessly from every angle.
“Can Daniel withstand the swarming force of Joe? Can Joe absorb the bludgeoning power of Daniel? We’ll find out soon enough on April 18 and it is absolutely one not to be missed.”
The winner of the crunch showdown will be on the brink of a world title challenge, with a shot at WBC holder Deontay Wilder and unified WBA,WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua distinct possibilities.
Dubois currently sits at three with the WBO while Joyce could become Joshua’s mandatory challenger for the WBA after collecting their Gold strap in February 2019.
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