DANIEL Dubois pulled off a stunning upset victory, hurting and knocking out Anthony Joshua in front of 96,000 people at Wembley Stadium. Joshua was badly hurt numerous times and somehow made it to round five when Dubois unleashed a counter right hand that even AJ could not get up from.
Dubois came racing out of the blocks, firing off his left jab and powerful right hand behind it, receiving two warnings for illegal use of the head. Stepping back with his hands low, Joshua was dropped at the close of round one by a gigantic Dubois right hand that landed bang on the chin. He did well to rise after the count and was effectively saved by the bell.
AJ was still rocking in round two as Dubois piled on the pressure. People posed the pre-fight question of what would happen if Joshua landed the same amount of right hands on Dubois as Filip Hrgovic did.
But it was Dubois doing the damage as every shot he landed had Joshua wobbling and clinging on for dear life. Both men exchanged jabs at the end of a fierce second round. Joshua was still trying to regain his senses and establish the left stick.
The pair wrestled in the third as Joshua attempted a fight-changing haymaker. Dubois landed some huge shots at the close of round three as Joshua ate further immense bombs. The Watford man took a left hook and sat on the ropes, eating a final combination uppercut as AJ teetered on the brink of defeat.
Joshua was down again at the opening of round four, counted by referee Marcus McDonnell, even though it seemed to be a slip. Soon after, the ref appeared to have called the contest off, although he was calling a second knockdown as an actual slip, such was the chaos occurring inside the ropes.
Joshua tried to desperately hang on as Dubois landed a low blow on the ailing former unified champion. Joshua even scored a peach of a right uppercut as the fourth round continued.
Smiling as he received a beating, Joshua taunted Dubois back to his stool in a bizarre move at the close of the fourth round. Daniel was using the elbow and forearm as Joshua suddenly earned some success in round five with a powerful shot. That spurred Joshua on enough to step in and launch the equaliser. Unfortunately for his cause, the 34-year-old walked onto a short right cross that left him on the canvas, limbs contorting, unable to climb again and fight back.
The fight was called off at 59 seconds of round five as Dubois 22-2 (21 KOs) cemented his place as a legitimate world champion. Trainer Ben Davison rushed in to try and aid his stricken charge.
“It’s been a long journey, I’m grateful to be in this position,” Dubois said. “I’m a gladiator, a warrior to the end. This is my redemption story.”
Anthony Joshua is now 28-4 (25) and the Tyson Fury fight seems as far away as ever. He promised another rebuild and promised to roll the dice. That will need some selling. Nothing brings excitement like the heavyweights. Promoter Frank Warren said the team will sit down and decide Dubois’ future.