In a stunning upset, Daniel Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round on Saturday night, denying Joshua the chance to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. The fight took place in front of a record crowd of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium.
Dubois, who successfully defended his IBF heavyweight belt, landed a powerful overhand right to Joshua’s chin just 59 seconds into the fifth round, sealing his victory.
The outcome was unexpected, as Joshua had entered the match on a four-fight winning streak, including a spectacular second-round knockout of Francis Ngannou in March.
Joshua, 34, was hoping to position himself for a title shot against the winner of December’s Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk rematch. Instead, he now faces the challenge of regrouping after suffering his fourth loss in 32 fights. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, indicated that Joshua would likely exercise his rematch clause and may also face the loser of Fury and Usyk.
“Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice of success, but we came up short,” Joshua said after the fight. “I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent, and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that’s the game.”
The match began poorly for Joshua, who was knocked down by a right hand in the first round. Dubois maintained the pressure, knocking Joshua down again in the third round with a left hook that sent him to the ropes. Although Joshua was saved by the bell, he fell again in the fourth after another left hook from Dubois.
In the fifth round, Joshua appeared to rally as Dubois showed signs of fatigue, but Dubois quickly ended any hopes of a comeback with one final knockdown. Despite Joshua’s attempts to recover, the fight was stopped.
For Dubois, 27, this victory marks a significant milestone in his career, positioning him for a potential shot at the undisputed heavyweight title after the Fury-Usyk rematch.
“I’ve only got a few words to say: ‘Are you not entertained?’” Dubois exclaimed after the fight. “I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior to the bitter end. This is my time, this is my redemption story, and I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.”
