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Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua in round 5 and defends his IBF heavyweight title

Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round of their IBF heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

Daniel Dubois fought the fight of his life at a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Saturday, knocking out British boxing star Anthony Joshua in the fifth round to defend his IBF heavyweight title.

Dubois came out aggressively, using his jab to control the distance and wear Joshua down. At the end of the first round, he knocked Joshua down with a monster right and Joshua barely survived the round.

Joshua was still dazed at the start of the second round and Dubois remained aggressive, but Joshua seemed to have recovered by the end of the round.

But Dubois didn't let up and dropped Joshua in the third, fourth, fifth and final rounds.

Joshua actually landed his best punches of the night in the fifth round when he got careless and Dubois clobbered him with an overhand right. Joshua fell to the mat and referee Marcus McDonnell waved off the fight with 2:03 remaining in the round.

Joshua, 34, has now lost to Andy Ruiz, Oleksandr Usyk twice and now to Dubois, and one has to wonder how much he has left as a championship contender. He had regained momentum after knocking out former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the second round in March, but Dubois, 27, proved his skill as a boxer.

Dubois had his doubters after many believed he had given up on a loss to Joe Joyce in 2020, but he stood up to the former champion and completely dominated him. After the fight, Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, said he believed Joshua would invoke his rematch clause with Dubois.

With the heavyweight championship rematch between defending champion Usyk and Tyson Fury set for December 21, it would make sense for the winner to perhaps face the winner of a potential rematch between Dubois and Joshua. However, there is still a long way to go until then and anything is possible in the world of boxing.

Joshua dropped to 28-4 (25 KOs), while Dubois improved to 22-2 (21 KOs), answering any remaining questions about his fighting spirit and ability to handle the pressure and immense energy at Wembley.

Live38 updates

  • AJ landed a big punch on Dubois, but then took a monster punch. It's over in round 5!

    Dubois knocks out AJ!!!

  • Round 4

    AJ taunts Dubois towards the end of the round. No idea why. AJ gets TAKEN.

    Dubois, 40-33

  • AJ is being abused. How long will this continue?

  • Warning of a low blow for Dubois.

  • What looked like another knockdown by AJ was waved off. Strange.

  • Another knockdown from Dubois in round 4!

  • Round 3

    AJ has his best round until the end when Dubois beats him up and knocks him down near the end of the round.

    Dubois, 30-25

  • AJ throws a jab to keep Dubois at a distance.

  • Round 2

    Dubois remained aggressive, using the jab effectively and landing some heavy punches. However, AJ seemed to recover at the end of the round.

    Dubois, 20-17

  • Dubois remains aggressive!

  • AJ is still stunned in round 2

  • Round 1

    Dubois comes out aggressive and attacks AJ. Dubois' jab looks great. Dubois is clearly the aggressor. And a powerful right drops Joshua!! AJ survives!

    Dubois, 10-8

  • Michael Buffer will now introduce the anthems and then the fighters.

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