In front of 98,000 supporters at Wembley Stadium, Anthony Joshua referred to Daniel Dubois as’s***’ just before his defeat. The two British heavyweights faced off on Saturday evening, with AJ aiming to become a three-time world champion.
However, Joshua was startled after being knocked out in the fifth round, allowing Dubois to retain his IBF heavyweight title.Dubois appeared to be the sharper, hungrier fighter right away, defeating Joshua in the first round and demonstrating his savage power and overwhelming force. Unfortunately for AJ, things only got worse over the next four and a half rounds, as he was knocked down twice more before the heartbreaking end.
Anthony Joshua shouted Daniel Dubois’s***’ just moments before he was knocked out (seen above) in front of 98,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium
While seated on his stool conversing with Davison before the fifth and final round, AJ was heard chatting about his 27-year-old opponent. However, Joshua remained sure he could defeat Dubois until the final blow, telling his head trainer Ben Davison DDD was’s***’. AJ could be heard discussing his 27-year-old opponent while sitting on his seat and conversing with Davison prior to the fifth and final round.
Joshua said: ‘We live for moments like this. Roll the dice innit. At the start of this round he will come out fast. He s*** though innit.’
Boxing fans jumped on social media to discuss what Joshua had stated. Some felt he was underestimating Dubois’ capacity to boost his confidence.Others believed it was disrespectful and ‘delusional’ to speak about Dubois in such a way after he had knocked him down several times.One fan rushed to social media to comment, “I mean, fighters say what they have to say to motivate themselves.” Obviously, Joshua understands that’s not true.
Another one added: ‘This is normal. Michael Jordan said he use to make up things people said about him to wind himself up. You have to do & say what makes you perform with confidence even if it’s at the cost of lying to yourself!’.
Several others agreed, writing: ‘I think he said it to convince himself he could win That’s how it sounded to me anyway’.
Wembley was stunned as Joshua failed to recover from a brutal right-hook in the fifth round
‘AJ’ was sent crashing to the canvas after the superb counter-punch from rival Dubois
Dubois watched on as Joshua struggled to get back to his feet and the bout was waved off
Joshua could be heard calling Dynamite Dubois – who retained his IBF title – s***
While one fan wrote: ‘Not respecting your opponent is a cardinal sin. That’s why he was struck down by the young buck.’ Another added: ‘Daniel made him pay for being so disrespectful.’
Joshua – who was devastated by the result – spoke to BBC after his shocking defeat and broke down exactly what went wrong for him on Saturday night.
He said: ‘The first round? Overhand right, chin in the air, no defence kaboom. And it was a bit of a downhill slope from there.’
The two-time heavyweight world champion went on to add: ‘I tried to change the tides but it just weren’t my night tonight.’
AJ finished by discussing the fifth and final round, saying: ‘I caught him with a good shot I think and then I tried to go for it, and then I got caught with an overhead right, when I was throwing the uppercut.
‘Thing is, I wasn’t setting shots up. In a shootout like that you really got to be a bit more sniper-esque. But when you’ve been hit a few times, it’s survival, I’m in survival mode. I just want to get him out of there and we had a shoot out and he hit me.’
This isn’t set to the mark the end of his career however as Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn revealed the will probably fight again.
The two-time heavyweight world champion blamed the opening round for his performance.
‘I’m confident I’ll invoke that rematch clause. He will believe he can hurt or beat Dubois.
When asked if this was the end of his life, Joshua said, ‘Nah, Nah, we’re gladiators. We had a rough day in the office. Listen, they want to see me fight, and I will fight. I’ll fight, that’s it.
