Daniel Dubois scored an unexpected victory over Anthony Joshua in the main boxing clash at Wembley. Dubois knocked out AJ in the fifth round and defended the International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight belt.
The 27-year-old Dubois shocked most experts who expected a victory for Joshua with an extremely dominant performance in the ring. From the outset, the younger of the two Brits imposed his will, knocking the former two-time world champion down in the first round with a brutal right hand. Dubois' offensive continued in the second round, where Joshua tried to escape from his opponent's blows. The gong saved AJ at the end of the third round. A heavy left hook stunned him and dropped him to the floor again. Joshua somehow survived the fourth round and then showed what he was capable of in the fifth, but only momentarily. Dubois found his compatriot's chin again and this time there was no going back.
"I just have a few words to say: Aren't you entertained?" Dubois began after the match. "It's been a long journey, I'm grateful to be in this position. I'm a gladiator and a warrior to the very end. I want to reach the highest level in this sport and realize my full potential. This is my time and I won't stop before anything", he added.
"Congratulations to him and his team. We tried but it didn't work out. I will keep my composure, be professional and give my opponent what he deserves. I had a sharp and fast opponent against me. I made a lot of mistakes, but that's the sport. I always say I'm a fighter for life...I'll keep doing it", said Joshua, who is expected to seek a rematch against Dubois.
Dubois, for his part, is very likely to be the next opponent in the ring of Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury. The two were in the hall to watch the all-British clash and will face each other again in December after Usyk defeated "The Gypsy King" to become the undisputed world champion by split decision.
Dubois is now 22-2 (21 KOs), with his two losses coming against Usyk and Joe Joyce. Joshua has 28 wins and 4 losses (25 by knockout). AJ's losses, besides Dubois, are by Usyk twice and by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. | BGNES
