CNN
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Anthony Joshua lost his chance to become a three-time world heavyweight champion on Saturday night when he was knocked out by British contender Daniel Dubois in the fifth round.
Dubois, who dominated the opening four rounds, ended the defense of his IBF heavyweight belt inside 59 seconds of the fifth with Joshua’s chin in front of a record crowd of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The decision comes as a huge shock as Joshua enters the fight in good form having won his last four fights, including knocking out Francis Naganoo with a stunning second round knockout in March.
With Saturday expected to finish as world heavyweight champion – which would have put him in the perfect position to fight the winner of December’s Tyson Fury-Olexander Usyk rematch and potentially become the division’s undisputed champion – Joshua is now suddenly looking to bounce back. .
The 34-year-old – now unbeaten four times in 32 fights – has a rematch clause, which his promoter Eddie Hearn expecting He does exercise. There is also a chance he could fight the loser of Fury and Usyk.
“Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice on victory but we came up short. said Joshua After the match. “We keep rolling the dice. I had a sharper opponent, a faster opponent and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that’s the game.
Joshua started the fight immediately on the feet after being knocked down with a right hand to the chin in the first round.
DuBois kept up the offensive in the second and third rounds, the latter seeing Joshua catch his opponent with a big left hook before launching another series of shots to send Joshua down for the second time.
The favorite was saved by the bell, but went down again following another left hook from Dubois in the fourth round.
It would have been an unlikely comeback as fifth Joshua Dubois began to tire. But it was short-lived, as DuBois brought down his opponent at last. Despite Joshua trying to right himself, the fight ended.
It was undoubtedly the best moment of Dubois’ career so far, and the 27-year-old is set to fight for the undisputed world heavyweight title following Fury and Usyk’s rematch in December.
“I have only a few words to say: ‘Aren’t you amused?'” he later said.
“I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior to the bitter end. I want to go to the top of this sport and reach my full potential.
“I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride. This is my time, this is my recovery story, and I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.”
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