ANTHONY JOSHUA discovered the true power of Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois on a humbling night for the former heavyweight champ.
AJ’s face was left distorted and misshapen in a remarkable image from the pair’s brutal IBF world title fight.
Dubois put on a clinic as he outboxed AJ from the first bell at Wembley Stadium.
The 27-year-old lived up to years of promise as he battered the two-time world champion in front of 96,000 fans.
A snap of Joshua’s face being brutalized by a Dubois right hand quickly went viral after the contest was stopped in the fifth.
It showed AJ barely recognisable as his jaw was bent away from his face.
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One fan gasped in response on X: “How can the human face take that?”
Another said: “This looks like AI man.”
While a third added: “This takes AJ legs away, he was done after that punch.”
And a fourth gawped: “You know it’s a good punch when the ears start spinning.”
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Dynamite wrapped up the victory in the fifth, sending Joshua sprawling to the canvas with a gorgeous right-hand counter-punch.
Channelling his inner Gladiator, Dubois roared to the crowd following his win: “Are you not entertained?”
Round by round: How Dubois demolished Joshua
ANTHONY JOSHUA bravely picked himself up from the floor against Daniel Dubois – until he could no more.
AJ was floored four times in five rounds by Dubois before a thudding counter right closed the show in dramatic fashion.
Here, SunSport’s Jack Figg takes you round-by-round from the Wembley war.
ROUND 1
Dubois comes out sharp with the jab as Joshua bounces around struggling to deal with the piston-like left.
Huge right hand from Dubois has AJ staggering backwards with his hands far too low from the opening bell.
Joshua made to pay for the mistake as he circles out with his hands down and gets dropped by an overhand right.
ROUND 2
Joshua – saved only by the bell after being floored – struggles to get going as he takes shots to the face.
AJ is tottering and teetering around the ring with his guard again dangerously low and inviting pressure on.
Joshua is attempting to get back into the bout but his jab looks far too lazy – he doesn’t look to have recovered from the knockdown.
ROUND 3
AJ comes out with more intent but swings wildly with a right and connects with only thin air.
Dubois pours on the pressure and hammers Joshua into the corner scoring another knockdown.
The bell sounds but Dubois lands one or two afterwards – again AJ is saved by the clock as the writing looks on the wall.
ROUND 4
Disaster strikes again with Joshua floored once more – losing his balance as he touches the canvas.
The referee gives AJ another fighting chance and Dubois lands a low blow – giving the challenger some valuable respite.
Dubois slows down as four rounds come to a close with Joshua showing sensational resilience to hang in there.
ROUND 5
Joshua lands a huge right hand and Dubois legs buckle – an astonishing turnaround looks to be on the cards.
AJ pins Dubois onto the ropes and attempts one of his signature uppercuts but the countering right hand gets there first.
Joshua is caught flush on the chin, dropped once more and this time out for good. Dubois scores a stunning KO win.
Joshua was knocked to the canvas FOUR times by the immense punching power of his opponent.
He was able to leave the ring under his own steam and cut a defiant figure in his post-fight interviews.
Joshua admitted: “You know I’m p****d, you know I’m ready to kick off in the ring.
“But I’m gonna keep my cool and keep very professional and give the respect to my opponent.”
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn suggested his man would be looking for revenge after a night of disappointment.
Hearn said: “I’m sure I’ll exercise that rematch clause.”
“He’ll believe he can hurt Dubois, he’ll believe he can beat him.”
UFC star Conor McGregor stole the show ringside before the fight with his choice of threads.
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And fans with in stitches after spotting The Notorious celebrating AJ hitting the canvas in round one.
Tyson Fury was also in attendance, with his brother Tommy receiving a chorus of boos from the watching crowd.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
