It was a counter right that shook the heavyweight world.
It left Anthony Joshua’s career in ruins. Daniel Dubois knocked out the former world champion in stunning fashion to retain his IBF heavyweight title in the most emphatic style.
The underdog despite being the champion. A man once questioned over his heart. Yet here he stood at Wembley Stadium as the conqueror of the man who once reigned as king in this part of the world.
READ MORE: Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua in Wembley mega fight – ‘Tyson Fury is next’
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Joshua, 34, had already been down three times but he had just somehow got back into the fight in the fifth. The Watford warrior had hurt the 27-year-old defending champion with a rocket of a right.
Dubois, for the first time in the fight, was on the back foot. He looked hurt and in danger. Joshua sniffed the blood he had promised to come for. It was a grave mistake.
(Image: Getty Images)
‘Dynamite’ waited perfectly and as Joshua overcommitted, he punished him. In the most brutal way possible. The Londoner is now a legitimate elite heavyweight. Joshua has now lost four times and it is a long road back from here.
A superfight with Tyson Fury has never looked further away. It will be Dubois who will be the interested spectator on December 21 when the Gypsy King goes to war again with heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk.
Both men suffered defeats by the brilliant Usyk which left question marks over where they fit in the heavyweight picture. But they both rebuilt since and now pitted against each other to prove they can get back to the top table.
Both Fury and Usyk were among the stars ringside. A scouting mission? They certainly got a glimpse of how dangerous Dubois is.
We had Liam Gallagher performing beforehand. But forget the music and the razzmatazz, this was a real fight between two heavy handed heavyweights with points to prove, even if at different stages of their careers.
It was electric inside the stadium in front of 96,000. British fans have been starved of the biggest fights with so many going to Saudi in search of cash. Dubois, despite being champion, walked first with trainer Don Charles who had missed most of the week due to illness. It still felt he was a bridesmaid at Joshua’s big day. Not for long.
The entrances were elaborate. The fireworks at the top of Wembley would be soon matched by the ones going off in the ring.
Dubois came out lively, coming in behind a double left and he landed a couple of early right hands. Joshua looked cagey and rattled. He swung wildly and missed. Then Dubois let one go. The right seemed to travel so far and Joshua still didn’t see it coming before he crashed to the canvas.
The stadium gasped. Joshua was unsteady on his feet as referee Marcus McDonnell counted. The bell would save him as Dubois was primed to finish it off.
‘Dynamite’ couldn’t explode another right in a scrappy second as Joshua managed to just do enough to stifle his work despite some strong jabs coming through. Dubois went back to going in behind the double jab at the start of the third as he pressed Joshua back.
(Image: PA)
Joshua started firing some good jabs off before a stunning left hook from Dubois sent him back into the ropes and he was all over the place. Dubois piled in and eventually Joshua was bundled to the floor, again he beat the count and again the bell came at just the right time.
Joshua was down at the start of the fourth again, this time it seemed a slip but McDonnell counted. Joshua’s career must have been flashing before his eyes.
They were once sparring partners in the GB Boxing gym as amateurs which led to rumours of an alleged knockdown. The world was seeing Joshua get rocked all over the ring here, though.
‘AJ’ appeared to end the fourth in more control, sticking his tongue out and showed Dubois to his corner at the bell. But the end would come in the fifth. Joshua wouldn’t beat the count this time.
Dubois has risen from the ashes of defeats to Joe Joyce and Usyk. Joshua must now decide if he can go again after Dubois joined Andy Ruiz and Usyk as the men to have taken him down.