In a stunning upset, Daniel Dubois shattered Anthony Joshua’s dreams of becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion, knocking him out in the fifth round to retain his IBF title at a packed Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The fight began with Dubois landing a powerful right hand in the opening round, sending Joshua to the canvas and forcing the referee to deliver a standing eight count. This early aggression set the tone for the fight, with Dubois relentlessly pressuring Joshua throughout the first four rounds. Joshua, despite taking a beating, managed to survive each round, but he was visibly hurt and struggling to find his rhythm.
The fifth round proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Joshua’s comeback hopes. After landing a few promising blows, any signs of a fightback faded as Dubois landed another thunderous right hand to the chin, sending Joshua crashing to the canvas. This time, Joshua was unable to get back to his feet, marking the end of the fight and a significant turning point in his career.
Dubois, after his biggest win yet at Wembley, declared, “I’ve only got a few words to say: Are you not entertained?” He went on to express his ambitions, stating, “I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior to the bitter end. I want to get to the top level of this game and reach my full potential.”
The fight, attended by a record-breaking crowd of 96,000, included notable guests like Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, who performed three songs on his 52nd birthday, and Ukraine’s WBC, WBA, and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk has defeated both Joshua and Dubois in the past, and is set to face Britain’s Tyson Fury in a rematch in Saudi Arabia in December.
Joshua’s future in the heavyweight division is now shrouded in uncertainty following the crushing defeat. He had hoped to challenge the winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch, but now faces a difficult path ahead. Dubois, however, is looking forward to another shot at Usyk, who beat him in nine rounds last year.
Joshua, reflecting on the defeat, acknowledged his opponent’s skills and his own mistakes. “Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice of success, but we came up short,” he said. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, indicated that they intend to exercise a rematch clause, stating, “It’s a dangerous fight because he’s growing in confidence all the time but he’ll believe he can beat him.”
This unexpected upset has shaken up the heavyweight division and will undoubtedly lead to exciting developments in the boxing world. The future of both Joshua and Dubois hangs in the balance, with their paths now intertwined in a new and unpredictable chapter.
