Anthony Joshua admitted he wanted to ‘kick ass in this ring’ moments after being knocked out by Daniel Dubois in a fierce fight at Wembley.
The 34-year-old boxer entered the competition hoping to join an elite group of boxers that includes three-time world champion Muhammad Ali.
The match, held before a record crowd of 96,000 under the famous arch, was a true ‘firefight’, with neither boxer paying much attention to defense or winning points, instead pushing for a knockout.
And it was Dubois who put in a performance of maturity, dominating the two-time champion for four and a half rounds until the underdog delivered the decisive blow in the fifth round after a dramatic exchange of punches.
After the fight, ‘AJ’ expressed his frustration at the way the long-awaited fight had gone, resulting in him almost certainly missing out on the deciding match between the Englishman and his old rival Tyson Fury.
Anthony Joshua has admitted he ‘wants to start in this ring’ after being knocked out by Daniel Dubois
The match was played in front of a record crowd of 96,000 under the famous arch and was a ‘firefight’ in which Joshua was knocked down several times.
But it was Dubois who put in a performance of maturity, dominating the two-time champion for four and a half rounds
He said: ‘Credit to him and his team. We rolled the dice of success but we came up short.
“You know I’m ready to get in the ring, but I’m going to stay calm, stay professional and show respect to my opponent.
‘I always tell myself I’m a fighter for life… We keep rolling the dice.
‘I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent and I made a lot of mistakes, but that’s the game.’
The world’s greats from the sporting and entertainment worlds, including Fury, Rio Ferdinand, Guy Ritchie and Conor McGregor, were gathered ringside to watch what was billed by Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren as “the British answer to [Marvin] Hagler vs. [Thomas] ‘Hearns’.
High bill indeed. That 1985 match was an all-guns blazing affair between two legends of the sport, with Hagler stopping his opponent inside three rounds.
After hours of thrilling preliminary round battles – and a performance by Liam Gallagher – the two British fighters walked onto the field at 10pm to loud cheers.
And the fight was fought at a dizzying pace from the start of the first round, with Joshua dealing with an onslaught from his younger opponent that he will not soon forget.
Dubois left AJ on the ground in the fifth round with the punch of his career to date
A dramatic exchange of punches in the fifth inning saw the underdog deliver the decisive blow
Dubois set the tone early with a series of clean punches to defeat Joshua
Dubois caught the favorite early on with a punch that would define the beginning of the match. It unsettled Joshua somewhat, but it seemed to have a long-lasting effect on his reactions.
A series of punches from Dubois followed, with the underdog focusing on his punches to get the most out of AJ’s punches.
At the end of the round, Joshua shook a huge right hand, sending the former champion to his haunches.
Miraculously, Joshua managed to complete the count and the bell immediately sounded, capping off a stunning opening salvo.
The second three-minute set followed in similar fashion. A good shot early in the round had AJ reeling, but the 34-year-old somehow managed to steady himself with the help of the ropes and his opponent’s body.
He was only setting himself up for more punishment when Dubois landed another good left attack midway through the second round.
At this point, Dubois’ left jab was so dominant and was being used at will. At the end of the second round, Warren told an interviewer that his fighter was “out-punching” Joshua, but that he needed to “focus.”
And he did, Dubois hitting the Watford player with a right hand to send him reeling back again as Wembley looked on in near silence, shocked by Dubois’ clinical display.
After hours of competitive undercard bouts – and a set from Liam Gallagher – the two British fighters walked out at 10pm
And the fight was fought at a dizzying pace from the start of the first round, with Joshua facing an onslaught from his younger opponent
Miraculously, Joshua made the count and the bell sounded immediately afterwards, capping off a stunning opening salvo
A focused Dubois hit the Watford player with a right hand, sending him staggering back
Joshua’s boxing skills left much to be desired during the electric match, but no one could fault his heart.
AJ was constantly getting punched in the body and head and it was one way traffic, he couldn’t even throw a punch.
At the end of the third round, more chaos ensued as Dubois landed more costly blows and the bell rang before the referee could count.
Joshua’s legs buckled under him after a smart overhand left, followed by a hail of punches.
Once he was ready, he was confident that Joshua could fight on. But for how long?
A thrilling fight threatened to turn into a farce after the former champion stumbled twice early in the fourth round, causing confusion at Wembley. The referee ruled the first round a knockdown and Joshua punched his chest in dismay.
Ben Davison had slightly less confidence in the coach who had turned the tide for AJ and who threw in the towel.
A timeout was called after Dubois hit a low ball, which Joshua stopped in time. The crowd was furious and wanted to see blood. Thousands of people booed this suffocating decision.
Joshua’s basic boxing skills left much to be desired during the electric match, but no one could fault his heart
Ultimately it was Dubois who raised his hand in a fight that lived up to expectations
The Londoner was able to celebrate with his younger brother after an incredible victory
A fired-up Dubois then immediately came forward and shook Joshua again. After such a punishment, it was hard to believe that the pre-fight favorite was still standing up and winning.
All AJ could do was try to deliver a miraculous uppercut to force the ultimate comeback. The 34-year-old boxer regularly went for a knockout, but did so with a lack of energy.
But as the remarkable fourth round drew to a close, there was a sense that Joshua might still have a way to get back into the fight. Dubois seemed to be tiring, perhaps discouraged by the survival skills of the bionic Joshua.
And then the spectacular fifth part.
Between key rounds, Joshua could be heard incredibly clearly as he chatted with Davison in his corner, appearing to defiantly call his dominant opponent ‘s***’.
The core message, spoken almost hypnotically, was: ‘roll the dice’.
And he threw the dice.
Promoter Frank Warren (right) had promised Britain’s answer to Marvin Hagler versus Thomas Hearns and the clash at Wembley delivered
Legendary announcer Michael Buffer calls out a victorious Dubois’ name after his victory
Tyson Fury (left) was one of many celebrities in attendance on Saturday night. Could the Gypsy King be next for Dubois?
The determined former champion hit Dubois with a hard right hand, causing the young fighter serious problems.
As Joshua felt blood, Dubois unleashed the punch of his career with a right hand, just a split second before the two-time champion could land his own finishing blow.
This time Joshua was definitely on the ground, but he had hit a good blow.