Promoter Frank Warren is hopeful that Daniel Dubois will return to action in May, subject to a full recovery from an eye injury.
Dubois was beaten for the first time as a professional by Joe Joyce in November, unable to beat the count after taking a knee in the tenth round.
Dubois’ left eye had almost completely closed at the point of the stoppage, with a scan later confirming that the former British and Commonwealth champion had suffered a fractured eye socket and nerve damage.
Warren has revealed that the 23-year-old will see a doctor on February 5, before it’s determined if he can return to the ring in May.
“He had two fractures of his eye socket. One on the flat bone and also the orbital,” Warren told BT Sport Boxing.
“He’s had to see two different specialists, so both of those fractures have healed very well.
“As regarding the retina and he had damage to his retina, he had a haemorrhage on his retina, thats what was causing him all the problems, the doctor has said that he’s going to see him on February 5.
“And subject to the retina being ok, he can then get back to training. If he does that he could be out in May with a bit of luck.”
Dubois was criticised in some circles for the manner of his defeat, however having spoken to ‘Dynamite’, Hall of Fame Promoter, Warren says his charge is adamant on making a comeback and is keen to keep him active this year, as soon as he is given the green light to proceed.
“I spoke to him last Friday and he was quite ok, very philosophical about the fight, it is what it is,” Warren added.
“He’s not moaned, he don’t complain about it, he just said he couldn’t continue, the pain every time it was getting caught, the pain was just excruciating, that it was causing a big problem to him, he couldn’t see the punches coming.
“And he said that now he’s got to regroup, come back and show the public what he’s made of and that’s it, that’s really what he’s got to do.
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“I want to keep him busy this year, by the end of the year if he fights in May, hopefully we can get him at least three fights under his belt and get him back in the swing.
“It was a cracking fight while it lasted and it was fought at quite a high tempo that fight, they threw quite a few punches between them.
“And who knows, down the road, we’ll get a rematch on.”
For Joyce, talks are reportedly ongoing for a WBO Interim title showdown against WBO mandatory, Oleksandr Usyk, with The Athletic reporting on Friday that the WBO had ordered the fight and given both teams 15 days to negotiate a deal.
This will enable unified WBA ‘Super’, IBF, WBO and IBO world champion, Anthony Joshua and WBC titlist, Tyson Fury to meet in an undisputed clash, with talks also progressing.
