London Bridge did not come falling down but Anthony Joshua was sent down four times by Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday on his way to a fifth round knockout loss. Once again, 'AJ' drew a huge throng to one of his fights (a crowd of over 98,000 came out), and once again, he was shocked by a sizable underdog in a heavyweight title fight.
For all his strength and power, punch resistance has been a major issue with the muscular Joshua
Five years after his shocking loss to Andy Ruiz -- where he was knocked down four times en route to a seventh round TKO -- Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) was buzzed in the first, and then later floored at the end of the opening stanza with an overhand right. The burly Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) continued to hurt Joshua with basically everything he hit him with. He battered Joshua again in round two, and then sent him down in the third and fourth.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
There were various moments when you felt that referee Marcus McDonald could have waved off the fight. Joshua had pockets of success but the reality is that Dubois was much more stout and durable than he was.
INCREDIBLE KO | Riyadh Season Card: Wembley Edition - Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois Highlights
In the fifth round Joshua seemed to stun Dubois with a right hand, and just as he tried to capitalize on his momentary advantage, he was struck down by a shot from Dubois that he never saw coming. Joshua went down in sections. While he had gamely fought on after the previous trips to the canvas, this time he was counted out.
It's clear that Joshua is more Frank Bruno than Lennox Lewis. And that is not meant to be a knock on him. Joshua has been a revelation for the boxing business (especially in the UK), and he has represented himself with class and honor throughout. But unfortunately, for all his admirable traits, he has one fatal flaw as a fighter.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
But really the story should be about the victor. Once a highly regarded prospect, Dubois was unfairly branded a quitter and a suspect after his stoppage loss to Joe Joyce in 2020. After racking up a succession of wins, he was halted by Oleksandr Usyk last summer in a fight where he landed a borderline low blow that had Usyk writhing on the floor in pain.
Dubois then returned in December to stop Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller in 10 rounds to end the year. He kicked off his '24 campaign by upsetting Filip Hrgovic in June (KO8) for the interim IBF title. Then despite being the defending champion coming into this weekend, Dubois was the decided B-side versus the popular Joshua. That's two big KO wins coming in as the underdog. At age 27, he finds himself right in the mix at the top of the games glamour division.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom BoxingYou could make an argument that he is the 'Fighter of the Year'.
Dubois was once written off, but as Seattle Seahawks signal caller, Geno Smith said -- he never wrote back.
UNDERCARD
- Hamzah Sheeraz looks like a middleweight who is headed for some big things. He wrecked Tyler Denny in two explosive rounds. Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) is a long, lean stick of dynamite with a full arsenal of punches that are delivered with snap and torque. He is as good as any puncher in the division.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Currently he is rated number one in the WBO (whose champion is Janibek Alimkhanuly), and he's the top rated 160-pounder by the WBC (their belt his held by Carlos Adames). You get the sense that unless he is a mandatory contender, no belt-holder will go in there with him voluntarily.
- Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) channeled his inner Mike McCallum by consistently strafing the body of Willy Hitchinson (18-2, 13 KOs). He scored two knockdowns with his withering body attack, and Hitchinson was docked a point for use of his head. It was a solid and steady effort for Buatsi, who believes that he is now ready for a title shot at light heavyweight.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
What's mind boggling is that despite all the work put in by Buatsi, somehow judge, Grzegorz Molenda, had Hutchinson by the score of 113-112. Thankfully Salvador Salva (117-108) and Howard Foster (115-110) scored the fight much more in line with reality.
FINAL FLURRIES
After his decision loss to Anthony Cace, Josh Warrington put down his gloves in the middle of the ring after the fight signaling his intentions to retire from the ring...Jaime Munguia put in a honest nights to put away the pesky Erik Bazinyan in 10 rounds on Friday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ....I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com....
