Dubois suffered broken orbital socket and nerve damage in brutal loss as eye ballooned up and will be out for long spell

DANIEL DUBOIS is facing a painful spell on the sidelines after Joe Joyce smashed his orbital socket and left his left eye with nerve damage.

Over ten brilliant rounds, the 35-year-old Olympic 2016 silver winner rammed an arrow of a jab into the British and Commonwealth champion’s eye.

Daniel Dubois’ left eye closed up after being jabbed by Joe JoyceDubois’ eye began to swell up during the fight

Dubois was counted out and lost his unbeaten record after taking a knee

In the end, the 23-year-old could take no more and was counted out on one knee, to hand his former Team GB sparring partner his old crowns and the vacant European belt.

The final left hand The Juggernaut landed seemed to send a shock through Dubois’ system and he compared the pain to an electric shock ripping through his skull.

The Greenwich prospect underwent standard neurological tests after the Westminster bout and was then whisked to Moorfields specialist eye hospital in East London where he stayed the night.

Dubois will return to Moorfields on Monday to see a specialist who will decide if he needs to be operated on, presumably once the ugly swelling has eased.

Former welterweight world champion Kell Brook suffered similar injuries to both of his eye sockets and needed eight months out to recover from the surgeries, that left him with titanium plates reinforcing his skull.

Another Brit Anthony Ogogo, a 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, retired from boxing last year after suffering a gruesome broken socket in his last fight against Craig Cunningham in 2016 and failing to recover despite SEVEN operations.

After the bout, Dubois said: “I couldn’t see out of the eye, it happens, I can’t explain it, he pinged it, I was trying my best

“I have been hit hard, it was the eye and the way it hit me.

“But I am a tough guy and I will come again I’m sure.”

Dubois took a knee in the tenth round against Joyce

Dubois was troubled by Joyce’s strong jab

Promoter Frank Warren hopes 15-1 Dubois takes a leaf out of David Haye’s celebrated book, once he heals.

The Hayemaker suffered a shock loss in his 11th fight but bounced back to become cruiser and heavyweight world champion.

Warren said: “The eye was a massive problem. I thought it was pretty even but he couldn’t see out of the eye and Joe did what he had to do.

“Daniel said it felt like a nerve shot through him and he was obviously in a lot of pain, he caught him with a jab and it’s done something to the eye.

“He will carry on, he is a young man, it is something he’ll learn from.

“A prime example is David Haye losing early in his career to Carl Thompson and he came back and won a title.”