It’s back to work for Daniel Dubois.

The 23-year old contender is preparing for a return to past glory on the heels of the lone loss of his career. Dubois suffered a double eye fracture in a 10th round knockout defeat to countryman Joe Joyce (12-0, 11KOs) in their battle of unbeaten British heavyweights last November at Church House in Westminster, England.

The generally low-key Dubois (15-1, 14KOs) has remained on the sidelines allowing the healing process to set in and for the medical experts to determine when he is once again fit to fight. A peek into that potential future was recently offered, addressing the lone loss of his career and his plans to overcome.

“November 28th, 2020. The first loss of my career. A devastating setback for me, the end to a crushing, tough year for everyone with the spread of COVID-19,” Dubois stated in a rare social media update from the heavyweight. “I refuse to let this set me back.”

The team behind him is in full agreement, once his health is fully restored.

“Dubois has now seen two specialists. He saw one for the orbital bone. The other is the eye specialist, to get the all clear,” Frank Warren, Dubois’ Hall of Fame promoter told BoxingScene.com.

“If he is back in training if he’s sparring and so forth, we’d like to get him back in May. They just want to get straight back in. He doesn’t want to be hanging around. They are of the mindset that whatever happened, happened.

“He’s very philosophical. He’s not being a crybaby about it, making excuses Whatever happened, happened. It was the excruciating pain he’s been in. It’s done there. He’s a young man and is ready to move on.”

Dubois fought just one other time in a pandemic-stricken 2020, scoring a 2nd round knockout of Ricardo Snijders last August to set up the anticipated showdown with Joyce. Their bout was due to take place earlier in the year and in front of a sold-out crowd, only to get wiped off of the schedule due to the initial wave of the ongoing global health crisis.

The timing would have been perfect, given the breakout 2019 campaign enjoyed by Dubois who scored five knockouts in as many fights on the year. The loss to Joyce was an unquestionable setback, though also a fight where it does more to elevate the winner than to dismiss the losing combatant.

“I think he gets back in the mix rather quickly, providing there’s no after-effects from the injury,” believes Warren. “We know he can punch. He was just badly vision impaired and had the terrible problem with the nerve.

“But once gets the all-clear from these specialists, it’s back to business as far as he is concerned.”

The 6’5” knockout artist couldn’t agree more.

“I will come back…get back to my boxing, iron out all my imperfections,” vows Dubois. “Trust me, I will be back with a vengeance.” 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox