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In a shocking turn of events at Wembley Stadium, 27-year-old Daniel Dubois delivered a knockout blow to former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, ending the fight in the fifth round. The bout, held in front of a packed London audience, saw Dubois defend his IBF heavyweight title in dramatic fashion.
The fight started with high expectations, but Dubois quickly gained control, knocking down the 34-year-old Joshua at the end of the first round with a powerful overhand right. Joshua, who held the WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight titles twice in his career, struggled to recover as Dubois continued to dominate.
Dubois dropped Joshua again in the third round and twice in the fourth before delivering the decisive right hook in the fifth round, sealing the victory by knockout. This marked Dubois’ first title defense, while Joshua suffered his fourth career defeat, bringing his professional record to 28-4.
Joshua’s defeat follows a series of significant wins earlier in 2024, where he beat Francis Ngannou by knockout in March, Robert Helenius by KO in August, and Otto Wallin by retirement in December 2023. However, the fight against Dubois ended his hopes of reclaiming a world championship for a third time.
In the post-match interview, Dubois, thrilled with his victory, exclaimed to the crowd, “Are you not entertained!”—a nod to his dominant performance. Joshua, on the other hand, remained composed in defeat, crediting Dubois for the victory and dismissing any talk of retirement, stating, “Of course I want to continue fighting. I’m a warrior.”
Reactions poured in from the boxing world, with Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Joshua twice in the past, expressing surprise at the outcome. “For me, it was surprising. I expected Anthony to win,” Usyk said. UFC star Conor McGregor also weighed in, supporting Joshua’s decision to continue his career, saying, “AJ is number one… he’s a legend forever… Of course, he can come back!”
Before the fight, Tyson Fury, who had defeated Joshua in the past, acknowledged Dubois’ potential and warned that respect should be given to his name. Fury’s words rang true as Dubois handed Joshua one of the most significant defeats of his career.
As the dust settles, Joshua faces a critical juncture in his career, while Dubois continues to cement his status as a rising force in the heavyweight division
