In a stunning upset, Anthony Joshua was handed the second knockout defeat of his career, falling to Daniel Dubois in their highly-anticipated all-British heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium. Dubois, the reigning IBF heavyweight champion, dominated the bout from the opening round and sent Joshua to the canvas twice before delivering a decisive right-hand blow in the fifth round, rendering Joshua unable to continue.
This unexpected outcome dampens Joshua’s prospects of securing a third world title reign, leaving fans and experts alike speculating on the implications for his future in the sport. Meanwhile, Dubois solidifies his status as a formidable force in the heavyweight division, having successfully defended his IBF title and secured his position among boxing’s elite.
Daniel Dubois wins by fifth-round knockout!
Joshua down in round five!
Round 5
Joshua can’t get out of the way of the punches. Yet almost from nowhere Joshua lands a huge uppercut! Dubois is hurt! A firefight breaks out … and in the midst of it Dubois cracks Joshua with a right hand on the chin that drops him to the canvas yet again! Joshua is on his side as McDonnell delivers the count … five, six, seven … he’s not going to make it! The referee has counted Joshua out and Daniel Dubois has won by fifth-round knockout!
“Are you not entertained?” Dubois shouts to the crowd to start off his post-fight interview, a deft callback to the Gladiator theme from fight week. “Thank you very much, you know. It’s been a long journey. I’m grateful to be in this position.”
He adds: “I’m a gladiator, you know? I’m just a warrior to the bitter end. I’m just ready to go. I want to go to the top level of this game and reach my potential. God bless you all.”
He’s asked what’s been behind the turnaround in his performances, which included emphatic wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgović over the past year.
“Just behind the scenes, the work with my dad, all my family and my strong team. They’ve helped me get through this,” he says. “I’ve just been on a roller-coaster ride and this is my time. It’s my redemption story. I’m not going to stop until I reach my potential.”
“The opponent,” is Joshua’s response when asked what went wrong. “Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice at success and we came up short.”
He adds: “You know I’m pissed. You know I’m ready to kick up in the ring, but I’m going to keep my cool and keep very professional and give the respect to my opponent.”
The interviewer then asks if we can expect to “see another rebuild” for Joshua – a polite way of asking if the 34-year–old plans to retire after tonight’s crushing knockout loss.
“Before I came here, I’m always saying to myself I’m a fighter for life,” Joshua says. “We rolled the dice at success and we came up short, [but] we’ll keep rolling the dice.”
He adds: “I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent. And secondly a lot of mistakes on my end. But that’s the game. As pissed off as I am, it is what it is.”
