Anthony Joshua suffered the fourth defeat of his professional campaign, second by stoppage, against an aggressive and determined Daniel Dubois.
The all-British heavyweight banger was on the biggest stage possible in front a record-breaking 98,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. Despite having less experience under the lights, Dubois, who was defending his new IBF World Title, didn’t let ‘AJ’ settle at all.
He scored a knockdown in the first and two more on his way to the eventual stoppage in the fifth.
Speaking on The Stomping Ground, Derek Chisora first praised Dubois.
“Daniel was good. He came in as a true champion and left like a world champion … Daniel now is number two in the world [behind Oleksandr Usyk]. If he stays on doing what he’s doing he can go all the way.”
On Joshua’s loss and calls from some people to consider retirement, Chisora – no stranger to people advising him to hang up the gloves – saw no reason for that to be the case.
“Why? He had a bad day at the office … I think he left everything in the dressing room.”
Post-fight, Joshua confirmed that he would fight on, giving props to Dubois and telling fans that he ‘rolled the dice and came up short.’ It was a humble statement from the man who carried the British heavyweight scene on his back for years and took it to completely new heights.
There was always going to be a changing of the guard, and 27-year-old Dubois forced that last night. Now, Joshua is said to be considering a rematch.
