Daniel Dubois scores impressive knockout, Joe Joyce decisions Bryant Jennings

Young heavyweight Daniel Dubois emphatically showed that he’s a better fighter than Nathan Gorman, knocking out his domestic rival in round five at the O2 Arena in London, England Saturday night.

The fight began at a measured pace. The respect between the two undefeated heavyweights was obvious. Gorman, more the boxer than Dubois, landed a left hook. He also connected with a solid right. Dubois (12-0, 11 KOs) pressed forward, jabbing, setting up his power punches. Dubois connected with glancing rights to the body and head. In round two, Dubois connected with a solid right.

Gorman fought back—moving slightly to his left and right. Dubois was using his jab intelligently. The big heavyweights teed up their shots in the last minute of the round - Dubois connected with a few more blows, one of which caused a cut near the left eye of Gorman.

In the early going of round three, Dubois forced Gorman (16-1, 11 KOs) into the ropes. A big right hand floored him for the first time in his career. Gorman got up and fought back. DuBois forced Gorman into the ropes and unloaded. Another huge right connected. Gorman was showing grit. He jabbed, but Dubois clipped him with another blow. .

Dubois stalked and rocked in round four. He was boxing patiently—waiting to unleash more power. The moment was getting close. Dubois went to the body, landing a solid hook. Gorman was looking for something to change the momentum of the fight. He landed two uppercuts-while Dubois pumped his left.

On my unofficial scorecard, Dubois had swept the first four rounds. He landed a combination in round five. Gorman countered with a sweeping left, but, seconds later, Dubois staggered him with a right hook. Gorman fired back but missed. Dubois backed Gorman into the ropes and let fly with a wicked one-two. The blows sent Gorman collapsing to the canvas. The big Englishmen failed to beat the count.

The time was 2:41 into round five.

“A good win tonight,” said Dubois. “I was just controlling the fight with my left hand.”

“I got caught with a good shot,” said Gorman. “I’ll be back in the gym.”

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In the heavyeight co-feature, Joe Joyce captured a boring 12-round unanimous decision over former title challenger Bryant Jennings.

Scores were 118-109, 117-110, and 115-112 for Joyce.

In the opening stanza, Jennings, three inches shorter than the six-foot-six Joyce, moved to his left and stuck out his jab. Joyce,33, went to the body. Jennings came back with own gut shot that hurt Joyce-followed by a right and a left. Joyce connected with a right to the jaw.

In rounds two and three, Joyce worked consitenly. He landed six or seven shots while Jennings languished on the ropes. Jennings,34, looked to counter but didn’t let his hands go. Winning a decision in Joyce’s backyard seemed dubious at best.

Joyce kept up the activity in rounds four and five. Jennings launched a left hook, but he was being doubled up in punches. He did clock Joyce with a hard right. Joyce forced Jennings into the ropes and fired. His punches are more clubbing than crisp, but they do land. Jennings connected with two right hands in round six. Joyce stalked and jabbed. Jennings landed a couple of solid shots in round seven. Joyce absorbed them without incident. He looked a little gassed.

The laborious Joyce landed a good right in round eight. Jennings fought back, but, like during most of the fight, not enough to win rounds. Joyce kept backing him up with punches. Jennings corner implored him to let his hands go. He did, connecting with a few combinations in round nine. Joyce, likely way ahead on the scorecards, remained the more active fight in round 10, 11 and 12. Joyce worked, while Jennings waited. The fighters leaned on each other as the crowd at the O2 Arena sat on their hands.

“He caught me with a very good body shot early on,” said Joyce. “I used my experience and toughness to pull through.”