ANTHONY JOSHUA ignored a desperate Eddie Hearn plea following his fifth round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois.
AJ was counted out by the referee after being caught by Dubois with a vicious fifth round shot that left him struggling to stand up.
Dubois, who retained his IBF heavyweight world title, had downed his British rival three times in the previous four rounds.
Following the fight, Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn revealed he had advised Joshua to not do a press conference.
He told reporters: “So I am going to stay with you guys for five minutes or so.
“My advice to AJ is to not do a press conference, [but] he wants to do a press conference, he wants to speak to you guys.
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“So he’s going to come in, he’s going to talk – I’m not going to sit here for ages taking questions but he’s going to talk to everybody and probably go on too long – and then I’m going to kick him out.”
Around 11 minutes later, Joshua arrived at the press conference room to applause for a valiant effort.
Reacting to his defeat, Joshua said: “Firstly, always walk with your head high.
“We took a shot at success and we came up short unfortunately. We rolled the dice man, for the third time.
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“That’s 13 world title fights, not every one has been successful, but every one has been fun and entertaining.
“We’re trying to create history for British boxing and I think we’re doing that and also I appreciate all the press and media – the fans aren’t here but I thank them through you.”
Joshua, 34, also spoke about what was next for him.
He said: “Do I want to continue? Of course I want to continue fighting.
“That’s why I said we took a shot at success and we came up short, and what does that mean now?
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.
“We’re going to run away and live to fight another day, I’m a warrior.
“And also before I finish credit to our opponent as well, Daniel.
“Even though when I sign up to fight an opponent I don’t really like them anymore, but now it’s done, I take my hat off to him and say well done to him and his team.
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“And also thank you to my team as well for the way they prepared me.
“There were a few mistakes in there but that’s the name of the game, fine margins can cost you at the top level, so thank you.”
‘Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator’ – What Dubois and Joshua said after brutal fight
DANIEL DUBOIS annihilated Anthony Joshua’s dream of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downes Jr.
Joshua was floored FOUR times as Dubois landed an astonishing fifth-round knockout in front of a record 96,000 Wembley crowd and millions of TV viewers to retain his IBF belt.
AJ, 34, never recovered after being downed in the first round of last night’s Battle of Britain showdown as a huge Dubois right-hand haymaker caught him flush on the chin.
Here’s what they said after the fight:
DANIEL DUBOIS
“Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator, a warrior to the bitter end. This is the biggest win of my career. I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to go to the top level of this game.
“I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and this is my time. I’m not gonna stop until I reach my full potential.”
ANTHONY JOSHUA
“As p***ed off as I am, it is what it is.
“I had a sharp, fast opponent and there were a lot of mistakes from me. Credit to my opponent and his team.
“We rolled the dice and came up short. You know I’m p***ed but I’m going to keep cool and give respect to my opponent.”
FRANK WARREN (DUBOIS’ PROMOTER)
“It was a phenomenal fight, like Hagler v Hearns.
“A brilliant fight and everybody has seen a champion’s performance tonight.
“Daniel has shown his courage, his skills.
“AJ caught him with a shot towards the end and I was worried, but what a fabulous, fantastic fight.”
EDDIE HEARN (AJ’S PROMOTER)
“AJ shipped a huge right hand in the first round and was fighting on heart.
“He hurt Daniel at the end of the fourth and then again in the fifth, but got greedy and walked on to a right hand and that’s all she wrote.
“I’m sure Anthony will exercise the rematch clause.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
