Daniel Dubois put in a superb performance, successfully defending his IBF heavyweight title with a fifth-round knockout win over former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua. Dubois dominated from the start in front of a record crowd of 96,000 fans.
Entering the ring first, signaling his rise to the heavyweight division, Dubois immediately engaged Joshua. In the opening round, he dropped Joshua with a powerful right hand. Although Joshua got back up, the knockdown set the tone for the rest of the fight.
In the third round, Dubois struck again, sending Joshua through the ropes with a solid left. While Joshua survived the round, Dubois continued to control the action with his aggressive approach and accurate punches.
The fight ended in a split decision in the fifth round when Dubois landed a devastating right hand that sent Joshua face-first to the mat. Unable to beat the count, Joshua suffered his fourth defeat in five fights.
After the match, Dubois triumphantly shouted to the crowd, “Aren’t you happy?” signaled his emergence as a major contender in the heavyweight division. He expressed his willingness to face the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch, with the aim of unifying the titles.
For Joshua, the defeat has raised questions about his future, although he has hinted at resuming his career, possibly aiming for a lucrative fight with Fury in the hope of redemption.
