- Daniel Dubois stuns Anthony Joshua with a fifth-round knockout at Wembley
- Anthony Joshua was floored multiple times, ultimately unable to recover from Dubois' assault
- British boxer Dubois declares, "I'm a gladiator, I'm a warrior to the bitter end" after securing his title
In an electrifying night at Wembley Stadium, Daniel Dubois shattered the expectations of boxing fans by delivering a stunning upset, taking down Anthony Joshua in a gripping five-round bout. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric as the reigning IBF heavyweight champion dismantled the former two-time world heavyweight champion before a crowd of 96,000 fans.
From the very start, Dubois made his intentions clear, catching Joshua with a thundering right hand in the opening round, leaving the Watford-born fighter momentarily stunned, saved by the bell, Joshua barely managed to compose himself as Dubois continued his relentless pursuit in the second round, determined to end the contest swiftly.
As the third round started, Joshua found himself floored yet again, barely escaping defeat as the bell once more came to his rescue. But in the fifth, Dubois delivered the knockout punch, sending Joshua to the canvas for the final time, with the referee stepping in to end the fight decisively.
The victory was as significant for Dubois as it was devastating for Joshua. Dubois, standing tall and brimming with confidence, remarked after the fight,
“I've only got a few words to say: Are you not entertained?!”
His sense of vindication was clear as he continued,
“I'm a gladiator, I'm a warrior to the bitter end. I want to reach the top level of this game and reach my full potential.”
In attendance were boxing icons Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, and UFC star Conor McGregor, watching from ringside as the two British fighters battled it out on their home turf.
Reflecting on the clash, former world champion George Groves analyzed the bout on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying,
“Joshua did hurt Dubois, his legs stiffened, and Joshua is a fantastic finisher. But he's a fraction too slow, and Dubois lands first.”
For Joshua, it was a night of disappointment, but for Dubois, it marked the pinnacle of a long and arduous journey.
“This is my redemption story, I'm not going to stop until I reach my full potential,” Dubois proudly declared.
The event drew the largest post-war boxing crowd ever recorded in Britain.
Nigerian star Israel Adesanya pockets staggering money despite loss to Du Plessis
Previously, TheRadar reported that Adesanya, known as 'The Last Stylebender', was set to earn $750,000 for the UFC 305 fight, while Du Plessis would collect $500,000.
With the anticipated strong performance of the pay-per-view broadcast, both fighters are expected to walk away with earnings well into seven figures.
