Why I lost to Daniel Dubois in fifth round – Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua has revealed why he was knocked out in the fifth round by Daniel Dubois during their heavyweight clash on Saturday, which saw Dubois retain his IBF heavyweight title.

The fight, held at Wembley Stadium in front of a massive crowd of 96,000, showcased a dominant performance by Dubois.

The 27-year-old floored Joshua four times before delivering the decisive blow in the fifth round—a powerful right to the chin that ended the contest.

During his post-match press conference, Joshua reflected on the loss, attributing his defeat to a series of mistakes made throughout the bout.

He said: “The first round? Overhand right, chin in the air, no defence kaboom.

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“And it was a bit of a downhill slope from there. Tried to change the tides but it just weren’t my night tonight.”

Revealing what went wrong with him in the fifth round despite starting it strongly Joshua said:

“I caught him with a good shot I think and then I tried to go for it, and then I got caught with an overhead right, when I was throwing the uppercut.

“Thing is, I wasn’t setting shots up. In a shootout like that you really got to be a bit more sniper-esque.

“But when you’ve been hit a few times, it’s survival, I’m in survival mode.

“I just want to get him out of there and we had a shoot out and he hit me.”

Why I lost to Daniel Dubois in fifth round – Anthony Joshua

Iwobi, Bassey shine as Fulham beat Newcastle 3-1

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Fulham’s attacking play was fluid, with Raul Jimenez opening the scoring in the fifth minute.

Iwobi, who joined Fulham from Everton in 2023, combined brilliantly with fellow Hale End Academy graduate Emile Smith-Rowe to score Fulham’s second goal with a composed finish in the 22nd minute, giving the hosts a comfortable lead at the break.

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Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown

Anthony Joshua suffered a stunning second career knockout defeat at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, as Daniel Dubois triumphed in their highly anticipated all-British heavyweight title clash.

Dubois, the IBF heavyweight champion, dominated from the opening round, knocking Joshua down twice before delivering a decisive right hand in the fifth round that sent the former two-time champion crashing face down to the canvas. Though Joshua tried to rise, the referee waved off the fight, sealing a stunning victory for Dubois.

This loss marks Joshua’s second career knockout defeat and dims his hopes of regaining a world title for the third time.

The fight began with Dubois taking control early. In the first round, he backed Joshua onto the ropes and dropped him with a powerful overhand right. Joshua, visibly shaken, managed to beat the referee’s count, but the warning signs were clear.

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The second and third rounds saw more of the same as Dubois continued his relentless assault. Joshua, still unsteady, struggled to defend himself from Dubois’ accurate jabs and hooks. Another knockdown came in the third, leaving Joshua looking weary and out of answers.

By the fourth round, Dubois had complete control, as Joshua’s movements grew sluggish and his punches lacked their usual power. Despite showing heart, Joshua couldn’t stem the tide as Dubois continued his dominance.

The final blow came in the fifth round. Joshua attempted to mount a comeback, throwing a few strong punches, but despite being wobbled, Dubois countered with a crushing right hand to the temple, followed by a clean shot to Joshua’s jaw, sending him crashing to the floor. The referee quickly stepped in to end the bout, as Joshua lay motionless on the canvas.

With this victory, Dubois successfully defends his IBF heavyweight title, while Joshua’s path to a third world title reign now faces serious doubt.

Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown