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Nick Parkinson
LONDON — Daniel Dubois left Anthony Joshua’s career in disarray after knocking out his English rival with a right to the jaw in Round 5 in a first defense of his IBF world heavyweight title Saturday.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) endured a nightmare as Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) floored him four times in Rounds 1, 3 and 4 before the savage finish after 59 seconds of Round 5.
Despite being the champion, Dubois pulled off an upset to inflict a fourth professional defeat on Joshua who was denied becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, the biggest postwar crowd for a boxing event in the United Kingdom.
Much was made of Joshua’s knockout form, and he entered the fight on the back of a vicious stoppage of Francis Ngannou in March. But it was Dubois’ power and aggression that emphatically determined the outcome as he swatted Joshua around the ring with ease.
Victory sets up the possibility of Dubois fighting for the undisputed world heavyweight title in 2025, against the winner of the Dec. 21 clash between WBC, WBA and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, who were both ringside.
Usyk stopped Dubois in Round 9 in August last year. Joshua must now hope for a Dubois rematch, or perhaps a clash versus the loser on Dec. 21 after another serious setback to his career.
“I’m fighting to get all the glory, to me I’m the hunter and I need to hunt,” Dubois said.
Who does he want next?
“All of the best, maybe Usyk, a big shot at my redemption, but anyone can get it,” Dubois said.
“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.”
It was such a crushing defeat for Joshua that it leaves his options shrouded in doubt and his reputation indelibly damaged. Talk pre-fight was of Joshua versus Fury, but this thrashing changes things after the 34-year-old was left bouncing off the canvas and discombobulated in Round 5.
“Before I came here, I always say to myself I’m a fighter for life,” Joshua said afterward. “You keep rolling the dice. I had a fast and sharp opponent, a lot of mistakes from my end.”
Dubois, who lives in Essex, repaired his career with stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic after losing to Usyk, but Joshua began the fight heavily favored to win back a title.
Joshua, who lives in north London, was more accustomed to big-stadium fights compared to Dubois. And he looked more at ease in front of a huge expectant crowd who got in the mood with a cameo appearance by Liam Gallagher, who belted out some hit songs by the recently reunited Oasis.
Dubois then proceeded to belt out Joshua.
Dubois, who was elevated from interim to full world champion status after Usyk relinquished the IBF title in June, ambushed the challenger early on.
Joshua made a composed started but he was dropped by an arcing right hand for his first count toward the end of the first round. Joshua momentarily lowered his hands, inviting Dubois to throw his right hand. Joshua got up on wobbly legs but was saved by the bell.
Joshua was still shaky in the second round as Dubois landed more shots. It wasn’t supposed to be this easy for Dubois, who looked on the verge of victory in Round 3. Joshua missed with a right hand and got caught with a counter left hook. He staggered backward and rolled on his ankle, before Dubois landed more clubbing blows to leave Joshua in a heap and taking a count.
The bell again came to Joshua’s rescue, but the former champion’s legs betrayed him again as he touched down for another count early in Round 4. He was lucky not to get a second count in Round 4, but when he went down no count was given.
Joshua, who ruled as champion from 2016 to 2019 and then from 2019 to 2021, was there for the taking and Dubois obliged when he beat him to the punch to land a right to the jaw that left his rival crumpled in a heap in Round 5.
Joshua, who accounted for his three previous opponents inside the distance, was left face down on the canvas and counted out by referee Marcus McDonnell as he tried to get up. It will be hard for Joshua to come back from his most damaging defeat yet.
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