Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight title

Daniel Dubois successfully defended his IBF world heavyweight championship by delivering a devastating fifth-round knockout against fellow Briton Anthony Joshua in a thrilling encounter at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. The event drew a passionate crowd of 96,000 spectators.
From the opening bell, the 27-year-old champion asserted his dominance, flooring the former two-time heavyweight titleholder on multiple occasions.Dubois had previously expressed his resolve to "legitimise" his reign as IBF champion, having been awarded the title vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in June.
The challenger's powerful performance raises serious doubts about Joshua's boxing future, although his promoter, Eddie Hearn, indicated that he anticipates Joshua will seek a rematch.

Despite entering the fight as the underdog, Dubois relentlessly pursued his renowned opponent from the outset, with his heavy punches visibly affecting the 2012 London Olympic champion throughout the contest.
In a gripping fifth round filled with intense action, Dubois landed the fight-ending punch, having weathered some concerning moments himself as Joshua finally found his rhythm.
The victory solidifies Dubois' position as a formidable force in the heavyweight division.
"Are you not entertained?" he said, speaking to DAZN after the biggest win of his 24-fight career. It's been a journey and I'm grateful to be in this position. I'm a gladiator, I'm a warrior until the bitter end. I want to get to the top of this sport and reach my full potential."
(Reuters Photo)
Before the explosive fireworks display over Wembley, Liam Gallagher of Oasis energized the eager audience with a three-song live performance.
In a thrilling opening round, the British opponents clashed, culminating in Joshua being rescued by the bell after being knocked down by a vicious overhand right.
Joshua, weighing 1.8 kilograms more than his younger rival, was in complete survival mode in the second round. Dubois floored him again in the third round with a left hook that caused his legs to give way.
Following a standing eight count, the bell rang, and as the fourth round commenced, Joshua hit the canvas for the third time, despite his objection that it was not a valid knockdown.

The fifth round was action-packed, with Dubois briefly stunned by two right hands. As Joshua attempted to capitalize on the situation, he was caught by consecutive right hands and found himself on the canvas once more, this time unable to beat the count.
Both boxers stepped into the ring with the goal of securing a chance to face Tyson Fury or Usyk for the undisputed world championship.
Usyk achieved a historic feat in May by becoming the first boxer to hold all four major heavyweight titles simultaneously, including the IBF, WBO, WBC, and WBA belts, after defeating Tyson Fury.
Instead of facing the mandatory IBF challenger, Dubois, Usyk opted for a rematch with Fury. Dubois won the interim IBF title in June and was elevated to world champion status when Usyk vacated the belt.

Joshua had aspirations of joining the prestigious group of three-time heavyweight champions, which includes legendary figures such as Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield. However, Joshua's career took a significant hit after suffering defeats against Andy Ruiz in 2019 and two subsequent losses to Usyk.
Despite bouncing back with four consecutive victories, Joshua aimed to reclaim his position at the top of the heavyweight division.
Following his devastating loss to Dubois at Wembley, which marked his fourth defeat in 32 professional bouts, Joshua suggested he would continue his boxing career, but the setback will undoubtedly require introspection and careful consideration of his future in the sport.
"We came up short as a team," he said. "You know I'm ready to kick off in the ring but I'm going to keep it respectful. Before I came here, I always say to myself I'm a fighter for life. You keep rolling the dice. I had a fast and sharp opponent, a lot of mistakes from my end."