Joe Joyce surprised the boxing world when he not only defeated fellow Brit Daniel Dubois on Saturday, but forced an end to the contest in the 10th round and left the prospect with a badly damaged left eye in the process.
Now, it is Joyce and not Dubois who is being linked with a world championship opportunity in 2021 — and Joyce believes he could become champion and avenge a past defeat along the way.
Although "The Juggernaut" is 12-0 with 11 wins inside the distance since turning pro in 2017, he was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk in the World Series of Boxing, a semi-professional annual event using a hybrid of amateur and professional rules.
Their January 2013 five-rounder at London's York Hall was a comfortable win for Usyk as the Ukraine Otamans beat the British Lionhearts on a card that also saw Vasiliy Lomachenko emerge victorious. Usyk won every round of every judge's score, finishing with three 50-45 cards.
A win for Dubois would have likely moved him high enough up the WBO heavyweight rankings to rival current mandatory challenger Usyk, who hasn't lost a fight since turning pro and unified the cruiserweight division before moving to heavyweight.
Usyk, who last fought in a decision victory over Dereck Chisora on Halloween night, and his team have made it clear that they intend to push for their WBO title shot in 2021, which would likely lead to the governing body stripping current champion Anthony Joshua if he opts for a lucrative megafight against WBC titleholder Tyson Fury first.
That would have made "Dynamite" Dubois the likely candidate to oppose Usyk for the vacant title, but with Joyce's big win there are now widespread suggestions that Joyce vs. Usyk II will be a direct offshoot of Joshua vs. Fury instead.
And the 35-year-old welcomes the chance at redemption.
“The Warrens have said that title may be available, and I’ve taken his spot with the WBO, so that could maybe happen,” Joyce told Boxing Scene. “Maybe not my next fight, but the one after that.
“A rematch would be amazing to fight him again for the world title. I’m a hell of a better fighter now. I’ve got better preparation, I’ve had more rounds. I can land more shots, tire him out and take him out.”
Joyce was a smooth operator in the amateurs and during his WSB tenure, but his 40-7 record included a number of tough defeats in the bigger fights.
Since turning pro, the true extent of Joyce's durability and awkwardness have become increasingly apparent to his opponents, with Dubois the latest to witness first-hand.
Joyce is confident that over 12 rounds rather than five, Usyk would also discover that the Brit is a completely different proposition, eight years on.
“Usyk is quite a small heavyweight, but I rate him, he’s got skill,” Joyce said. “It’s hard to hit him, but with my team I reckon I could take him because I’m a more experienced fighter.
“He’s put on some muscle, so he’s a little bit slower. I rate him because he’s got the brains and he’s got good footwork and head movement. It would be a difficult fight, but one I want and one I could win.”
“I think I’ve got better footwork and I’m a better boxer than Chisora. I think it would be a good fight and I can’t wait for it to be made.”
Joyce's manager, Sam Jones, reiterated this in an interview with Sky Sports.
He said of the 2013 encounter: "Usyk won but, if you watch the fight, Joe was always in it. Joe was raw and inexperienced at the time, and Usyk had too much know-how. Joe had never sparred a southpaw in his life before fighting Usyk.
"Joe is a lot bigger than [Usyk's most recent opponent] Derek Chisora and throws a lot more punches. Joe would be written off again and would go into this fight as a big underdog again but we are very confident he could topple Usyk.
"Usyk is a genius, I love watching him, he is arguably the greatest cruiserweight of all time. But against the real big boys he will come unstuck. And Joe is a real big boy, and Usyk will come unstuck."