Daniel Dubois Knocks Out Anthony Joshua at Wembley, Retains IBF World Heavyweight Title
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK (September 23rd, 2024)– Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois watched Anthony Joshua emerge from the chute to flaring fires and the initials A.J. illuminated. Keeping his composure in the main event of a six bout card at Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom, Dubois knocked down Joshua in the first, third, fourth and fifth rounds. In the fifth round, Dubois knocked out former champion Joshua for the full 10 count for the first time to retain the International Boxing Federation World Heavyweight title, upgraded from interim to full, on Saturday night, September 21, 2024. Dubois made his case to fight the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk II.
Dubois, 22-2 with 21 knockouts, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom, missed with a wild right hook, then landed a solid overhand right to Joshua’s jaw which sent Joshua down to his right knee for a three count in round one. Joshua, 28-4 with 25 knockouts, Golders Green, London, United Kingdom, got up prematurely, got up prematurely, and was on queer street, saved on by the bell which could hardly be heard amongst the crowd noise. Joshua, his low arms defense always suspect, got perfectly time by Dubois’ speed and accuracy.
Dubois, coming off stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, fighters with a combined record of 43-0-1, came out in round two and put come forward relentless pressure on Joshua, trapping him along the ropes with the ring cut off and throwing with power, neutralizing Joshua’s movement and ability to set his punches. In round three, Dubois attacked Joshua’s jaw viciously, sending Joshua to the canvas held up by his hands. Referee Marcus McDonnell did not immediately call the knockdown, leaving Joshua to stagger backwards onto the ropes, his legs gone. Dubois landed a barrage of left and right hooks to the head, sending a helpless and defenseless Joshua tumbling to the canvas again.
Joshua’s issue is he had no ‘Plan B’ to counter Dubois’ power. As with his first contest with Andy Ruiz, Joshua, who like the late Tommy Morrison during his career he has been plagued with a weak chin against extreme power hitters, had no answer. A technical war, such as Joshua waged in the Andy Ruiz 12 round rematch and in both of his technical 12 round battles with Oleksandr Usyk, requires distance range in center ring, solid defense and countering skills, and the ability to tie up your opponent.
An overhand power left hand from Dubois dropped a surprised Joshua early in round four, who rose to his feet, and pounded his chest with each hand in a display of heart, but still with no answer to Dubois’ power. The key was Joshua needed to use his height and reach advantage to remain out of distance range. Dubois used his strength and power to bully his way inside, create tremendous pressure, with the offensive heat so unbearable Joshua could not get away. In the first round, when Dubois dropped Joshua, immediately Joshua’s legs were completely gone, and thus were not there well enough to simply outbox Dubois for the remainder of the contest.
The ringside commentator noted Joshua had the look of resignation in his eye. Joshua tried to box on, then fell again, though it appeared more his legs were gone rather than any one punch. McDonnell appeared to end the contest at that point, but his arm gestures were actually a notation of no knockdown.
In round five, an overconfident Joshua moved forward and landed a good left hand body shot on Dubois, and then advanced for what he believed was possibly the kill opportunity. Going for broke, and throwing a left, another left, and then a right hand over the top with evil intent, Joshua got one right in return from Dubois. Attempting to throw another right hook up close with Dubois backed in a corner, Joshua got countered by Dubois with a perfectly timed counter power right with his careless guard down. Dubois had superior hand speed, underestimated by Joshua, on top of Dubois’ superior power. The timing of Dubois mirrored Sergio Gabriel Martinez’ knockout of Paul’ The Punisher’ Williams in the second round of their rematch on October 20, 2010 for the WBC World Middleweight title at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall.
That knockout happened in center ring. The parallel had to do with the timing of the punch. Both Martinez and Williams were throwing, just that Martinez got there first. Joshua totally disrespected the power of Dubois, and the power was twice as lethal at close range. Joshua pitched forward briefly unconscious. Much like 26-0 Mike Jones against Randall Bailey on June 9, 2012, for the vacant IBF World Welterweight title at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Joshua, like Jones when he got knocked down in the eleventh round, twisted in vain on the canvas vainly trying to get up but was unable to do so. Joshua was counted out for the first time in his career, his world title aspirations and hope of a title future matchup with Tyson Fury train wrecked for good.
In the last eleven months, Joshua had defeated four cherry picked opponents, Jermaine Franklin Jr., Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, and MMA fighter Francis Ngannou. The overconfident Joshua should have realized Dubois, with more recent hard core experience battling the heavyweight division’s best, was not an opponent. Get hit flush and decked by a power hitter like Dubois, and good luck trying to get up. Never happen. Dubois, ranked second in the world on BoxRec above Tyson Fury, validated the world ranking. Of the six scheduled bouts of the evening, only Joshua was knocked out. A rematch seems unlikely.
Result: Daniel Dubois KO 5 Anthony Joshua, Heavyweights (0:59)
International Boxing Federation World Heavyweight title
Joshua down in round one, three, four and five. Counted out. Referee: Marcus McDonnell
Wembley Stadium Undercard Results
Anthony Cacace Win 12 Josh Warrington, Super Featherweights
Cacace retains IBO World Super Featherweight title
Cacace’s IBF World Super Featherweight title not on the line in this bout
Josh Kelly Win Majority Decision 12 Ishmael Davis, Super Welterweights
16-1-1 Kelly gets close decision over 13-0 Davis. Davis still scheduled to challenge Uisma Lima for IBF-Intercontinental title at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on October 26.
Joshua Buatsi Win Split Decision 12 Willy Hutchinson, Light Heavyweights
19-0 Buatsi wins interim WBO World Light Heavyweight title. Dmitrii Bivol could be next if Bivol gets by Artur Beterbiev at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on October 12.
Hamzah Sheeraz Win TKO 2 Tyler Denny, Middleweights (2:05)
21-0 Sheeraz retains WBC Silver Middleweight title.
21-0 Sheeraz wins EBU European and Commonwealth Boxing Council Middleweight titles.
Josh Padley Win 10 Mark Chamberlain, Lightweights
In battle of unbeaten lightweight prospects, 15-0 Padley wins over 16-0 Chamberlain in controversy. Chamberlain down in round eight, and deducted a point in round nine for pushing. Scoring 95-93, 96-92, 96-92 for Padley. A rematch in 2025 could be justified here.
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