Daniel Dubois retained his IBF world heavyweight title with a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua in an all-British spectacular at Wembley on Saturday.
The 27-year-old dominated the opening stages of the bout against the two-time former unified heavyweight champion and Joshua had no answer to his relentless power.
After being floored repeatedly, Joshua said, “I live for moments like this.”
Joshua could barely stand by the end of the fourth round, slipping and stumbling around the ring, but when he came out for the fifth, he came out swinging and forced Dubois back into the corner.
Joshua landed some big shots, but Dubois picked his moment – finding Joshua’s jaw with a crisp right hand that sent him to the canvas again and ended the fight.
Dubois had called the fight his potential “resurrection story” as he looked to finally win a title fight.
There’s a re-match clause in the contract which Joshua may decide to trigger.
If he doesn’t, then perhaps Joshua will look for an easier fight to restart the building process and Dubois could fight another IBF contender, such as Joseph Parker, or wait to fight the victor of the Usyk vs Fury re-match in an undisputed bout.
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