DANIEL DUBOIS BOUNCED back from his first career defeat with a big second-round knockout victory against Romania’s Bogdan Dinu in Telford on Saturday night.

The 23-year-old heavyweight was returning to the ring since seeing his rise severely stunted in November by fellow Briton Joe Joyce.

It was a devastating loss – the only one of his fledgling career so far – and one which saw Dubois face accusations of quitting after taking a knee and being counted out in round 10. However, it later emerged that he had suffered a fractured eye socket that required surgery.

Now recovered and with a new trainer in Shane McGuigan – Barry McGuigan’s son – Londoner Dubois showed no signs of apprehension or rustiness against the experienced Dinu (20-3, 16KOs) and fired off stinging shots from the first bell.

Dinu ducked away from trouble in the opener but he was caught by a big right hand in the second round which kept him on the canvas for the full count.

As well as potentially helping to seal a rematch against Joyce, victory in Saturday’s WBA final eliminator also sees Dubois (16-1, 15KOs) become mandatory challenger to ‘regular’ champion Trevor Bryan.