Daniel Dubois delivered a commanding performance on Saturday night, knocking out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round to retain his IBF world heavyweight title. Fighting in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley, Dubois controlled the bout from start to finish, leaving Joshua overwhelmed and unable to recover.
Dubois, 27, dropped Joshua multiple times, with a major knockdown early in the first round setting the tone. Joshua, 34, struggled to find his footing and was unable to withstand the relentless pressure. The fight ended in the fifth round when Dubois landed a devastating right hook, forcing the referee to stop the contest.
This win further solidifies Dubois’ standing after being elevated to champion status following Oleksandr Usyk’s vacated title. For Joshua, it marked his fourth loss in 32 professional fights, raising questions about his future in the sport. Despite the setback, Joshua vowed to continue his career, stating, “We rolled the dice, but came up short.”
Dubois, energized by the victory, expressed his hunger for more, saying, “I want to get to the top of this sport. This is my time, my redemption story.” The win puts Dubois in a strong position to pursue further glory in the heavyweight division.
