Daniel Dubois Dethrones Anthony Joshua in Five Rounds

Cataleya

September 23, 2024 · 1 min read

Daniel Dubois Dethrones Anthony Joshua in Five Rounds
Other Sports | September 23, 2024
World champion Daniel Dubois improved his record to 22 professional wins with 21 of those by stoppage and two losses. (Image: Matchroom Boxing)

Daniel Dubois once seen as a heavyweight champion without a defining moment, legitimized his reign by defeating Anthony Joshua in a stunning five-round match before 96,000 fans. At 27, Dubois showcased his youth, fearlessness and raw determination, silencing critics who labeled him a “paper champion” after he upgraded from interim to world champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF belt.

Despite a rocky path that included defeats by Joe Joyce and Usyk, Dubois proved his doubters wrong. Promoter Frank Warren expressed pride in Dubois’s journey, recalling how pundits had dismissed him after earlier losses. Dubois known as the “silent assassin,” entered the ring undeterred, dropping Joshua four times and earning cheers from the crowd as he left.

Dubois’s victory positions him for a potential showdown against the winner of the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk rematch, setting the stage for an extraordinary comeback in heavyweight boxing. In contrast, Joshua now finds himself at a career crossroads, facing a challenging reality after his recent defeat. The event, organized under the ‘Riyadh Season’ banner showcased Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in boxing.

With lavish arrangements and celebrity attendance, the fight week in London set a new standard for British boxing featuring a glamorous atmosphere not typically seen in the sport. However, this shift raises questions about the future of major fights in the UK as lucrative Saudi investments reshape the boxing landscape.

As Daniel Dubois celebrates his rise, Anthony Joshua faces an uncertain fate with his recent performance casting doubt on his ability to regain his former dominance in the ring.