Daniel Dubois has been tipped to bounce back from his loss to Joe Joyce and become a world-title contender.
Dubois suffered a 10th-round stoppage to Joyce in London on Saturday and suffered a broken eye socket in the process.
But former world champion David Haye predicted Dubois would recover in the heavyweight ranks and criticised promoter Frank Warren for pitting his fighter too early against a 35-year-old Joyce.
“We saw that he wasn’t ready for that level,” said Haye of his world title credentials. “Technically, he’s not ready but give it three or four years. I’m not saying it’s over for him.
“But I hadn’t seen anything from Dubois to suggest he had any business being in there with Joe, other than a tremendous record and a big knockout reel.
“Experience goes a long way in this game. Going to the Olympics and going to the European amateur championships and Commonwealths – winning golds and silvers – you’re fighting the best in the world. You are tried and tested.
“Dubois wouldn’t be ready to beat Oleksandr Usyk, which is what they’re potentially looking at next. You’re going to need another five, six or seven fights before you start looking at some big names.”
Instead, Joyce is now in the favourite to take on Usyk.
And speaking on Monday, Usyk’s promoter Eddie Hearn was asked if he can make the fight happen, to which he replied, “Yes, I can.” Joyce is keen to take on the Ukrainian.
After outjabbing and outthinking Dubois, he said: “Usyk, Usyk, I’m ready for you Usyk.”
