Daniel Dubois defeats Anthony Joshua by 5th-round KO to retain IBF heavyweight title | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Daniel Dubois punches Anthony Joshua during the IBF heavyweight world title fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua on the Riyadh Season - Wembley Edition card at Wembley Stadium on September 21, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Daniel Dubois retained his IBF heavyweight title and sent a message to the entire division with a fifth-round knockout victory over Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Dubois made it clear from the start that he was not to be taken lightly. He was aggressive from the first round, throwing a jab to Joshua’s face and following up with pressure.

Joshua had little to offer in return. A nonchalant retreat towards the ropes opened up an opportunity for Dubois to hit him with a looping right hand that secured a knockdown and stunned the huge Wembley crowd.

Dubois’ dominance continued throughout the first round. The third round featured a moment of madness where the champion forced the referee to call a knockdown after initially missing that Joshua’s gloves were down:

Mark Ortega @MarkEOrtega

Really crazy end of round sequence in round 3. Joshua gets rocked, gloves hit the canvas, referee fails to call a knockdown, then Joshua gets beaten until a knockdown is decided. Ben Davison in hell!

Dubois came into this fight as the champion, but he was also playing the role of the underdog. Joshua is a two-time world champion who has won four straight fights after two straight losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old was working hard to bounce back from his loss to Usyk. Dubois had a chance to win Usyk’s titles in 2023, but was set back by a ninth-round knockout loss.

He has since bounced back with TKO wins over Jarell Miller and Filip Hrgovic before this monumental victory over Joshua.

For Dubois, it was about reclaiming his place among the division’s elite.

“I have to keep it and hang on to it. I have to legitimize myself by winning this fight,” Dubois said. James Regan ESPN. “It’s a story of a resurrection of my career. I just want to take on the biggest challenges, make a name for myself and make history.”

If Dubois wants to take on the biggest challenges, he will certainly be paying attention when Usyk and Tyson Fury meet in December.

Fury and Usyk fought a split decision in May. Usyk won and became the undisputed heavyweight champion before the IBF took it away and awarded it to Dubois.

It’s one thing for an organizing body to award someone a title. It’s another to beat a former two-time heavyweight champion to retain that belt. Dubois did a lot to legitimize himself as a true champion of the division Saturday.