London - In a stunning upset, Daniel Dubois successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title by knocking out former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua in the fifth round of their highly anticipated bout at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The fight, witnessed by a record post-war boxing crowd of 96,000 fans, saw Dubois assert his dominance early on, flooring Joshua in the first and third rounds before delivering the decisive blow in the fifth round with a powerful straight right hand.
Following his victory, Dubois expressed his determination to continue his journey to greatness, stating, 'This is my time, my redemption story. I'm not going to stop until I reach my full potential.'
Joshua, who entered the fight as the favorite, acknowledged his opponent's skill, admitting, 'I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent. A lot of the mistakes were mine.'
The defeat marked a significant setback for Joshua, who has now suffered four losses in the past five years. Despite this, he affirmed his commitment to continue boxing and learn from this defeat.
Dubois, on the other hand, solidified his status as a legitimate heavyweight titleholder and positioned himself for a potential showdown with the winner of the upcoming rematch between WBA, WBC, and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.
Reflecting on his victory, Dubois declared, 'I'm a gladiator. I'm a warrior to the bitter end. I want to go to the top level of this game.'
The referee's decision to stop the fight after Joshua's knockout signaled the end of a remarkable night of boxing that showcased Dubois' skill and determination in the ring.
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