Anthony Joshua dealt a grave humiliation as he is dismantled by Daniel Dubois

Overpowered, overwhelmed, and now, surely, over the hill. Three weeks before turning 35, the age at which Anthony Joshua once promised to retire, the one-time emblem of British heavyweight boxing was dealt his gravest humiliation yet, his every defence dismantled by Daniel Dubois in 4-and-a-half astonishingly one-sided rounds.
If the fallen champion looked as if he had seen a ghost, then so too did his impresario Eddie Hearn, whose masterplan to restore his man to the summit of the sport has now officially been reduced to matchwood.
On a bizarre, disorientating night at Wembley Stadium for the IBF heavyweight title fight, with the Saudi national anthem given priority over God Save the King to reflect Riyadh’s bankrolling of the occasion, Joshua looked a pale imitation of the revitalised fighter wildly talked up for a duel with Tyson Fury. Needing first to navigate the challenge of Dubois, a nimble mover and fierce puncher growing in stature with every contest, Joshua conveyed the air of a man who wanted the canvas to swallow him whole.
The end, when it came, was merciful. One crisp blow of the jaw was all it took for his 6ft 5in frame to crumple and for his plans for a nine-figure payday against Fury to be wiped out. But the manner of the concluding act barely hinted at the punishment Joshua had endured at the hands of a man seven years his junior. Four times he lay prone, helpless, as though desperate for the referee to put him out of his misery. He did not need to wait long, with Dubois flattening him with an unanswerable right.
UNBELIEVABLE! 🤯DANIEL DUBOIS KNOCKS-OUT ANTHONY JOSHUA! 💣😯#JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/qztw67gma5
Dubois’ pose told you everything, as he stood over his vanquished adversary in a fashion redolent of Muhammad Ali’s snarling triumphalism towards Sonny Liston, the most iconic image in sport. The axis of the heavyweight division has tilted, with Joshua’s renaissance stopped in its tracks and Dubois catapulted towards global stardom. All roads were pointing towards a Joshua-Fury confrontation in 2025, but that can be shelved indefinitely. No wonder Fury appeared crestfallen at ringside as he digested the result. He had just lost out on a minimum £100 million.
There had long been doubts over Joshua’s chin, given his knockdowns against Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 and, shockingly, the corpulent Andy Ruiz Jnr two years later. But the anxieties had been assuaged by the authority of his recent victories, with coach Ben Davison showing signs of restoring him to the dominance of old. But this was an evening when everything went wrong, with Joshua discovering, in the most chastening possible way, that his career was running out of road.
It should have been an experience of unalloyed joy for somebody born just a few miles up the road in Watford. He clearly believed in his superiority over Dubois: the star attraction at Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2018, he did not exactly opt for subtlety in his choice of walk-on music. Striding out to The Godfather theme tune, he appeared in full “sleep with the fishes” mindset, with the musical medley ending with War from Rocky IV. There were none of the theatrical jets of fire that had accompanied his entrance against Klitschko. This was strictly business.
Except the alarm for Joshua was acute from the outset. Dubois, far from intimidated by the size of the stakes, detonated a juddering overhand right in only the first minute that sent Joshua staggering back. There was almost a timidity about the older man’s approach as he struggled to settle into any form of rhythm, with his hands dropping and his footwork leaden.
This always looked likely to be a thunderous contest, with only four of the fighters’ 49 wins having gone the distance. But it was Dubois meting out a beating to which Joshua had no response, with the former two-time champion collapsing under the bombardment in the closing seconds of the first, reprieved only by the bell. He had still not recuperated by the second, with Dubois refusing to take a backward step, stalking his prey to all corners of the ring and imposing himself time and again with his jab.
The story, which some had thought apocryphal, was that Joshua had been troubled previously by Dubois in sparring. This time you saw exactly why, with Dubois whipping in a left hook in the third round and Joshua appearing to touch the floor with his glove. While it was not deemed a knockdown, Dubois sustained his assault without mercy, not relenting until Joshua was down again.
It was remarkable, frankly, that Joshua was still standing, given how much he was suffering. Even with 96,000 fans inside Wembley, the chants of “AJ” were diminishing, his disciples resigned to the inevitable. The fourth round was fractionally closer, but the die was cast. Although Joshua landed his first clean hit of the fight deep in the fifth, it merely left him open for Dubois to apply the coup de grace, launching one savage hit into the windpipe and another to the chin. This time there was to be no Lazarus-like comeback, with Joshua forlornly counted out.
Unlike after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua did not seize the microphone or attempt to offer any specious justifications for losing. He spoke softly, briefly, conscious that the future he had mapped out for himself had just been dramatically and irrevocably redrawn. Rarely, if ever, are falls from grace so brutal.
A closer look at Dubois’ EMPHATIC opening round… 🔎Where it started to go wrong for AJ! 😯 #JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/iyjQoQbYlu
Daniel Dubois, I’ve been telling you for years! #AndStill #RiyadhSeasonCard – Wembley Edition
Respect 🤝#JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/fWY0j4uqoa
It was a phenomenal fight and I always felt it would be a Hagler-Hearns situation. AJ showed his heart right until the end. It was a brilliant fight.
I always felt Dubois would do it and he has. It’s not a turnaround, it was there. He was a young man and had double fractures in his eyes, he couldn’t fight. He hurt him [Usyk], I’d like to see him fight him now but he has to fight Tyson now.
Everyone here has seen a champion’s performance tonight. He’s done everything you could ask for. AJ caught him with a shot over there and I was worried. He’s a young man and on top of his game, he can improve.
I’ve only got a few things to say, are you not entertained?!
It’s been a journey and I’m grateful to be in this position. I’m a gladiator, I’m a warrior until the bitter end.
I want to get to the top of this sport and reach my full potential.
Behind the scenes, the work with my dad. I’ve been on a rollercoaster run, this is my time, this is my redemption story. I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.
After that [being knocked down in the first] he was fighting on heart and desire and I’m so proud of him because he never gave up. His legs were deceiving him and he just kept on trying. 
At the end of the fourth round he hurt Daniel Dubois, and in the fifth round he really hurt Daniel Dubois! And then he got greedy and walked straight onto a right hand, and that’s all she wrote. That’s what can happen when you’re in there with a massive puncher.
He never gave up. He never stopped trying to get up even when he couldn’t get up.
I’m a gladiator! Behind the scenes the work with my Dad, all my family, my strong team, they’ve helped me get through this. God bless you all man.
We rolled the dice at success but we came up short. I want to say to everyone in Wembley, I appreciate you coming out this evening. You know I’m p—–. You know I’m ready to kick off in the ring. But I’m going to stay cool and stay professional, and give the respect to my opponent.
UNBELIEVABLE! 🤯DANIEL DUBOIS KNOCKS-OUT ANTHONY JOSHUA! 💣😯#JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/qztw67gma5
Joshua had only just landed a right-hand shot himself, a potential ray of light after so much punishment, but Dubois steadied himself before planting a right hand on Joshua’s chin as he leaned his weight forward. Joshua toppled, left in a heap lying on his side on the canvas, and there was no prospect of making the count. An explosive fight that lived up to the hype. Dubois countered the counter-attack.
Is Dubois also feeling the pace ? Huge right from Joshua wobbles Dubois and goes on the attack himself… but it caught in the exchange by a counter which crumples Joshua who is unable to recover. Paid the price after fighting back. Great spirit by AJ in brutal fight. What a performance by Dubois…
Joshua hit the canvas again and, to coin a phrase associated with Wembley, they thought it was all over as the referee waved his arms, but it was ruled a slip.
Dubois’ left-hand continues to do serious damage, this is one-way traffic. You have to admire Joshua’s heart and chin but this has been a pummeling so far. His only chance is to hope Dubois has punched himself out or pray for one big punch of his own.
“F—— warrior spirit” says Ben Davison in Joshua’s corner.
Joshua stumbles and is down again. His legs have gone. He tied Dubois up.
Dubois measuring AJ for a finish. Low blow from Dubois. Warned. Joshua is all over the place. Joshua lands a couple of jabs, throws right hand. Joshua fighting on instinct. He is all over the place.
Dubois 10-8 
Joshua caught again just before the bell at the end of the third round, and his legs buckled as he fell back towards the ropes. He gets to the count of five before standing up in front of his stool after the bell had sounded. The referee made him walk forward but is satisfied that he is fit to continue. Surely he cannot last much longer…
Dubois still hunting for a finish. Joshua pawing out long jab and missing…
Dubois stalking… looking for the big right hand finish. All Dubois. Jab, jab and a right hand to the body…
Joshua touches down. Then is down, the bell goes and he is counted as he finds his feet. Ben Davison talking to AJ about countering.
10-8 Dubois
 
Round one: Dubois 10-8
Round two: Joshua tries to start fast but DDD the aggressor again. Joshua has not recovered. Grim survival tactics and AJ holds and ties his foe up. Left and right from Dubois. Somehow Joshua survived the round. Dubois 10-8
Dubois going in for the kill right from the off in round two, and Joshua looks unsteady on his feet as he grasps from the ropes and some potential respite. This is a survival mission for Joshua at the moment. The crowd sensing that they might be about to witness a spectacular early stoppage. At the end of the second round, Joshua is still standing but is on the back foot after a Dubois barrage.
Here is that Dubois right hand from the first round:
Dubois’ left-handed jab is proving a weapon so far, and the defending champion has started on the front foot. Joshua feeling his way into the contest, but he is the fighter reacting rather than setting the agenda so far. 
And Joshua is down! He is up well before the count, and then the bell goes. But that was a heavy blow landed by Dubois, a big overhand right.
After a 12-minute wait in the ring for Dubois for Joshua and the anthems, they are underway. Dubois looked warmed up and sweating for his walk in. Marcus McDonnell is the referee, and they are underway. Dubois very fast start, lands the jab well. Joshua tries the overhand right. Good jab and right hand from Joshua. Dubois warned about use of the head.
 Huge right from Dubois drops Joshua in a heap and AJ is saved by the bell. He was hit flush on the chin.
Joshua vs Dubois is under way. How long will this last?
After he announced Liam Gallagher to the stage, he has returned to the day (or night) job. We are about to get ready to rumble…
Bright green lights greet the playing of the Saudi national anthem, which is booed initially by some sections of the Wembley crowd. A not too subtle reminder to all 96,000 in attendance of who is really running the show. We then have God Save the King to mark this all-British heavyweight fight.
There’s eclectic and then there’s hearing Supersonic and Chant of the Saudi Nation at the same gig.
His ringwalk starts with Nino Rota’s ‘Love Theme’ score from The Godfather, which surely everyone has considered making their ringtone at some point. Joshua in the more typical boxer’s gown, and he looks the more measured of the two fighters as he approaches the ring.
Daniel Dubois the first man out. He appears to have borrowed one of those barber shop pashminas you have put over you when getting a haircut. Whatever keeps him warm and limber, I suppose.
Liam offstage before the final syllable of Cigarettes and Alcohol had reached row Z in the top tier, not giving the organisers a second longer than he had to. The cognitive dissonance of a man singing about doing “a fat line” with the logo for Riyadh Season in the background almost too much to compute. Oh well, the competent tribute act backing him seemed to be having a nice time. Including, it should be noted, Oasis’ original rhythm guitarist. Et tu, Bonehead?
That’s Liam’s three songs done, and now the countdown to the main event begins.
The ringwalks should begin in around 20 minutes, but they never miss an opportunity to drag these things out.
If you think the guitar solo sounds familiar it is because it is a lift from George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord. 
Now onto Cigarettes and Alcohol, which of course bears more than passing sonic resemblance to T Rex’s Get It On.
You either love the fact Oasis steal rather than borrow in a nod to their musical heroes, or find it all too derivative.
Liam adds a sweary ad-lib to Rock n Roll Star and within seconds Sky flash up a message on screen reading “We apologise for the strong language”. Coarse language near me boxing ring, how frightful! He misses the first line of Supersonic next, which does not seem ideal. No apology yet for that.
Rock ‘N’ Roll Star ™️ @liamgallagher #JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/LS2JZN3kRp
Not much has changed: still going for the nasally Lydon-Lennon crossover after all these years. But he’s stronger and more assured than some especially ropey solo performances a few years ago. The benefit perhaps of, err, toning down some of his extra-circular activity.
He is walking through the concourses of Wembley like he is about to step into a boxing ring, but nothing new there I suppose. And would you believe it, he is getting the Michael Buffer treatement as his name is announced.
And he kicks off his three-song set with Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, the first track off Oasis’ first album Definitely Maybe, which was released 30 yards ago.
He’s here 👀 @liamgallagherPerformance coming up next!#JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/VgaOQLkwu1
We’ve done everything we can do to get to this position, he’s done brilliantly in the ring to get to this position, and now this is his moment in time. Let’s see what he can do. He’s got reach, he can punch, he gets caught a couple of times, but so does AJ.
AJ knows he can hurt him, and he’s a bigger puncher now [since the pair sparred 10 years ago and Dubois knocked Joshua down].
AJ has landed 👑🔜 #JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/J7xdhWzjIx
The ringwalks are expected to start at approximately 10pm. Dubois has been in his dressing room for quite some time already. Joshua has been giving off a relaxed air all week.
Liam Gallagher is due up next, for his Wembley acclimatisation session before a reunited Oasis play at Wembley next year. He has already shared his three song setlist for this evening, and it’s grim reading for fans of his solo material, Rock n Roll Star, Supersonic and Cigarettes and Alcohol, a combination which will get you deported at best from the country paying for this evening’s festivities. It’s Liam’s 52nd birthday today, and what better way to celebrate than with about 15 minutes work for presumably a touch above minimum wage?
SETLIST for the boxing tmoz ROCK N ROLL STAR SUPERSONIC CIGS n ALCOHOL tune in or get tuned in LG x
He is not yet at Wembley and has elected to warm up at his hotel. Joshua opting for a late arrival, presumably an attempt to avoid distraction and wasted energy. As ever, the outcome will dictate how this strategy is viewed.
That was Sheeraz’s 15th consecutive stoppage and continues on his path towards a world title fight. That was the most commanding performance of the night so far.
Hamzah Sheeraz is heading to the very top. Left hook to the body took everything out of Tyler Denny. Sheeraz is one of the great rising stars in world boxing.
The European middleweight crown is on the line. This is the final fight on the undercard before Liam Gallagher’s three-song cameo precedes the blue-riband fight between Joshua and Dubois.
Quite the discrepancy between the cards there: 113-112 to Hutchinson, 117-108 to Buatsi, 115-110 to Buatsi. There was some murmurs around the ring when the Polish judge’s score in favour of Hutchinson was read out.
Have Buatsi winning this by two rounds in spite of the late salvo from Hutchinson. Some fight. 
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Epitome of the rough trade here as both Buatsi and Hutchinson hurt each other in the ninth round. Both men emptying their tanks here. Hutch down. Buatsi needs to press now in the tenth.
Fortunately, he only had 10 seconds or so remaining in the round before the ball. Hutchinson was up on the count of four, but his legs were wobbling a touch. Not long before that, Hutchinson had Buatsi on the ropes and was unloading. But Buatsi is back in the ascendancy with three rounds to go.
We all know with heavyweights it could be a one round blast-out, but if it’s not, how can this not be a potential fight of the year? I’m just so excited, I can’t wait.
This fight is delivering, both fighters taking each other to the well. Hutchinson point deducted for the use of the head, and was down. Buatsi ahead but he has looked hurt as well as he targets Hutchinson’s body. Grueling brutality. Terrific fight.
In the eighth they are duelling and though I have JB two rounds up. Who wants this the most?
After landing a flurry of punches, Hutchinson is docked a point for a deliberate blow to the back of Buatsi’s head. Hutchinson then lands a cutting right-hand. Buatsi’s defences are being breached far too easily. Perhaps a touch of complacency after Hutchinson went down in the last round.
Then Hutchinson walks straight into a Buatsi right hand! Some heavy shots landed in the seventh round.
He gets up on the count of seven, but Buatsi sense the opportunity in front of him. Hutchinson slumps down on his stool, and needs to fill up on oxygen before the seventh. It was a strong body shot from Buatsi that put Hutchinson on the canvas.
Hutchinson has a small cut around each eye as we approach the halfway stage of the bout.
Josh Warrington, two time World Champion.Some career if this is the end 👏 pic.twitter.com/9AaK52gsOc
They are fighting for the vacant WBO Interim light-heavyweight title. The pair had a tense head-to-head at the pre-fight press conference, with Buatsi grabbing Hutchinson around the neck. Will that atmosphere continue when the bell sounds?
Buatsi versus Hutchinson is the most intriguing fight outside of Joshua v Dubois.
Hutchinson surprised against Craig Richards in the 5v5 event in Riyadh. Buatsi is another level, but Hutch got under his skin in the build up.
Strong and powerful is Buatsi. Skilled and a mover is Hutch.
Willy H will have to get ahead in the early rounds to win this in my opinion.
It’s good to be here watching the boxing ringside, but it’s better watching at home on the television if I’m honest. I could have a couple of Diet Cokes, a couple of sandwiches, a kiss to my wife. Better, a lot better.
I see them knocking the s— out of each other [on Joshua vs Dubois]. It’s going to be a great fight.
The judges had it 118-110, 117-111 and 117-11. A competitive and tenacious showing from Warrington, but it was a fairly comfortable, unanimous points verdict in Cacace’s favour.
Cacace won that 116-112 for me. Won eight of those rounds even though it was competitive. Warrington is a rough, tough man. The night is passing very quickly. Three fights down; three to go…
Warrington was flagging in the last few rounds, and he was caught by a hefty uppercut in the 12th. Warrington takes it and remains standing, before he slipped. Both fighters have given everything and, while this is not a foregone conclusion, Cacace looks to have the edge as they go to the judges’ scorecards. Warrington has some blood on the back of his head.
Terrific action from Cacace and Warrington. The latter, the Leeds Warrior, is making this an entertaining feast. Very physically demanding. Into round eight, I have The Apache a couple of rounds up. But Warrington relishes this kind of dogfight…
He predicted a riot tonight attempting to win a world title for the third time.
Warrington was caught by Cacace at close quarters, but has steadied himself. Warrington had made the stronger, more controlled start, but the Northern Irishman is starting to land. One upper-cut from Cacace caught the eye. A fight that is living up to its billing so far.
View from my broadcast seat…Terrific action from Cacace vs Warrington into round three Atmosphere building at Wembley Stadium starting to fill up…#joshuadubois at 10pm pic.twitter.com/6NwBFbU03F
Josh Warrington’s walk-on music starts with Leeds United staple Marching on Together. Let’s hope he has better fortune at Wembley than his football team over the last few decades. That is followed by I Predict A Riot by the Kaiser Chiefs. Anthony ‘The Apache’ Cacace follows him out to the sound of Zombie by The Cranberries, a favourite of Irish rugby fans.
Josh Kelly looks rather puzzled by how close those judges’ cards were – 114-114, 115-113, 115-114 – but he is the winner. Davis might regret not getting on the front foot sooner. Steve Bunce reckons Davis had “his ears boxed off” and is “flabbergasted” that one of the judges had it a draw. But job, just about, done by Kelly.
After controlling much of the fight from the outside, Davis is cut and Davis is the aggressor in the 12th and final round. I am not sure Davis has done enough to overturn the expected points verdict, but Kelly is hanging on. Boy was he happy to hear the bell. Kelly has surely done enough overall, but that was a sharp reminder of how momentum can shift.
Josh Kelly is taking on Ishmael Davis. Davis was a late replacement after Liam Smith pulled out because he contracted a virus.
📝 95-93, 96-92, 96-92@joshpad with the upset! A massive start at Wembley Stadium 😯 #ChamerblainPadley #JoshuaDubois #RiyadhSeasonCard pic.twitter.com/5tu5ZaenF5
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Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight world title challenge against holder Daniel Dubois, with a packed undercard preceding the main event at Wembley.
This is Joshua’s 13th world title fight, and he is the man with greater experience of big dates in outdoor arenas. Dubois has never fought at Wembley, while Joshua is returning to the stadium for the first time since 2018 when he bettered Alexander Povetkin. 
Dubois’ interim IBF title was upgraded to world championship status when Oleksandr Usyk agreed to his rematch with Tyson Fury, thus ruling him out of facing the mandatory challenger. 
Both Joshua and Dubois have been beaten by Usyk, the world’s best heavyweight, but have recovered. Dubois got the better of Jarrell Miller, thought by some to be the best piece of form going into tonight’s fight, and he also stopped Filip Hrgovic.
Joshua has strung together a four-fight winning run against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, but the calibre of those opponents has been questioned.
There is an expectation that Joshua vs Dubois could turn into a firefight, with Dubois talking up his chances of an early knockout and both fighters being extremely heavy punchers.
Dubois told Sky Sports: “I aim to knock him out. That’s the programme. That’s the mindset, that’s the intention coming into this fight. I’m going to focus my whole life into destroying it and just being a good destroyer, a good conqueror.
“Don’t wait. Go out there. Smash him.”
The undercard is already under way, with Anthony Cacace vs Josh Warrington at super-featherweight, Joshua Buatsi vs Willie Hutchinson for the vacant WBO Interim light-heavyweight title and Tyler Denny vs Hamzah Sheeraz on tonight’s slate.
There is also going to be a performance by Liam Gallagher, who has a Wembley date of his own next year following the news of Oasis’ reunion. The frontman, who turns 52 today, announced his setlist on X last night and is giving the crowd what they want by playing the hits. Will Joshua and Dubois do the same?