Could Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce be like a game of Snakes and Ladders?

The much-anticipated all-British heavyweight bout between Londoners Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce is just around the corner. The clash has had fight fans all over the country licking their lips for months, and after several postponements, the pair will finally trade blows at the Church House on November 28^th.

Dubois, who is considered to be one of Britain’s hottest boxing prospects, is on a 15-fight unbeaten streak (14KO/TKOs), whilst Joyce also boasts an unblemished record (11-0 10KO/TKOs). However, come fight night, one of their impressive records will be tarnished, and according to ‘The Juggernaut’ Joyce, who isn’t being favoured for victory in the Joyce vs Dubois odds, the fight could be like a game of Snakes and Ladders, with the winner climbing towards the top, whilst the loser is left needing to rebuild their status.

“This is a big fight and it is a big ladder to the top or a snake where I would have to rebuild,” Joyce said. “So, the loser will have to rebuild a little bit and Daniel has got time more on his side because he is a young pup who would definitely be able to come back.

“I’d be able to come back too, but I don’t plan to do that. This is my chance to show what I am made of and to progress to the next stage and get a shot to become heavyweight champion.

“As a professional I want to be world champion, and this is the route I need to go down and Dubois is standing in my way right now.”

It is fair to say that for 35-year-old Joyce, who has 12 years on his opponent Dubois, it could be harder to come back, and he has acknowledged that in his comments. There is talk that the winner of this bout could face Oleksandr Uysk for the WBO heavyweight title, should current champion Anthony Joshua vacate the belt in favour of a fight against Tyson Fury, and given his age, not many more title shots could be in line for The Juggernaut, who has made it very clear he wants to be a world champion.

That is where Triple D has an advantage. At just 23, a defeat would be much less of a set-back, as he has plenty more time to make his way up a few ladders, and it would be a massive shock if he didn’t reach the top of the heavyweight boxing world given the experience he has already gained at such a young age.

It seems that there is much more on the line for Joyce than there is for his opponent. In some respects, it’s a case of make or break for the 35-year-old. However, with Dubois already climbing into second in the WBO rankings, in which Joyce doesn’t even make the top 10, he won’t see defeat as an option.

Triple D is within touching distance of a world title bout, whether Joshua vacates his WBO crown or not, and should he dispatch of Joyce on November 28^th, next time he enters the ring, there could a lucrative belt on the line.