The highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night ended sooner than expected, with Dubois scoring a knockout victory in the fifth round.
Dubois successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title after knocking Joshua out with a decisive right punch to the chin. Before that, Dubois had already floored Joshua four times throughout the match. The outcome now positions Dubois to challenge the winner of the upcoming fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21.
Saturday’s fight, which attracted a sold-out crowd of 96,000, saw Joshua fall to 28-4 in his career, marking his first defeat in five outings. Dubois, now at 21-3, expressed his focus and resilience during the match, stating, “I’m a gladiator… a warrior to the end.” Meanwhile, Joshua reflected on his performance, citing the sharpness of his opponent and acknowledging several personal mistakes.
The fight unfolded with Dubois displaying a strong aggressive stance from the first round, knocking Joshua down with a powerful right in the opening round. As the bout progressed, Joshua struggled to keep up with Dubois, who maintained control and landed significant punches. By the fifth round, Joshua attempted to regain momentum but ultimately succumbed to a knockout.
In other matches on the undercard, Hamzah Sheeraz defeated Tyler Denny by TKO, while Joshua Buatsi claimed victory over Willy Hutchinson by split decision, knocking Hutchinson down twice. Anthony Cacace demonstrated his championship caliber by winning against Josh Warrington via unanimous decision, and Josh Kelly secured a majority decision win over Ishmael Davis after a challenging match.
The event attracted a notable celebrity crowd, including Conor McGregor, Baby Spice (Emma Bunton), and other boxing stars, all of whom were eager to witness the action.
Overall, the night showcased not only the fierceness of heavyweight boxing but also highlighted emerging talents and competitive bouts throughout the card.