Daniel Dubois stuns Anthony Joshua, retain IBF heavyweight title in London showdown

Daniel Dubois delivered a stunning fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua to retain his IBF heavyweight world title on Saturday night, as Riyadh Season made its debut in London.

Fighting in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, Dubois overwhelmed the former two-time champion, dominating from the opening bell and delivering a career-defining performance.

The 27-year-old entered the ring with something to prove, having been awarded the IBF title vacated by Oleksandr Usyk earlier in the year.

Dubois had vowed to “legitimize” his reign, and his destructive display has now raised significant questions about Joshua’s future in the sport. Despite Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, suggesting a rematch, Dubois’ victory casts doubt on whether Joshua can reclaim his former glory.

Dubois, despite being the reigning champion, was seen as the underdog and made his ring entrance first, while Joshua was treated as the headliner. But from the outset, Dubois relentlessly attacked his rival, landing powerful shots that repeatedly staggered Joshua.

In the action-packed fifth round, Dubois sealed the contest with a decisive blow that left Joshua unable to beat the count.

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The victory was Dubois’ 24th win and the most significant of his career. Speaking to DAZN after the fight, he expressed gratitude for his journey. “Are you not entertained?” he said. “I’m a gladiator, a warrior until the bitter end. I want to get to the top of this sport and reach my full potential.”

Joshua, weighing four pounds heavier than his younger opponent, found himself in survival mode early. Dubois dropped him multiple times, with a left hook in the second round and another knockdown in the third.

Although Joshua protested that the third knockdown wasn’t legitimate, the momentum was clearly with Dubois.

In a dramatic fifth round, Joshua briefly rallied with two strong right hands, but Dubois responded with a flurry of punches that sent Joshua to the canvas once again. This time, the 34-year-old could not recover before the referee’s count, marking his fourth career loss in 32 fights.

Both fighters had entered the bout eyeing a shot at becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion against Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk, who recently became the first undisputed four-belt heavyweight champion.

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Usyk had vacated the IBF title earlier in the year, allowing Dubois to be elevated to full champion after winning the interim title in June.

Joshua had been chasing a return to the top after losses to Andy Ruiz in 2019 and Usyk in 2021 and 2022 had left his career in limbo.

Despite winning four consecutive fights leading up to the Dubois contest, his hopes of joining legends like Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis as a three-time heavyweight champion now appear distant.

After the fight, Joshua expressed his disappointment but hinted at his desire to continue in the sport. “We came up short as a team,” he said. “I’m a fighter for life. You keep rolling the dice, but I made a lot of mistakes tonight.”

Hearn confirmed that Joshua would likely pursue a rematch, though he acknowledged the risks. “I’m sure he’ll want a rematch, but it’s a dangerous fight. Dubois is growing in confidence all the time,” Hearn stated.

As Dubois celebrates the biggest win of his career, the future of one of the sport’s biggest names, Joshua, now hangs in the balance.