Going into this fight, Anthony Joshua was widely seen as the favorite to win. But I viewed it as a 50-50 matchup. Daniel Dubois, after his controversial performance against Oleksandr Usyk and a recent victory over Jerell “Big Baby” Miller, had shown he was no pushover. So, I was eager to see how this fight would play out.

From the opening bell, both fighters held their ground, each trying to establish dominance. As the first round progressed, Dubois began to take control, pressing forward and working behind a solid jab. Then, out of nowhere, he landed a huge overhand right that caught Joshua square on the chin, sending him to the canvas at the end of the round. The crowd erupted—no one expected Joshua to be dropped so early.

In the second round, Dubois continued his assault, landing another powerful right hand that seemed to stun Joshua. It looked like Dubois was on the verge of a stoppage, but Joshua, showing his resilience, managed to survive the round.

The third round was more of the same. Dubois landed a left hook in the final seconds that left Joshua on unsteady legs. Dubois swarmed in, sensing the opportunity to finish the fight, but Joshua was saved by the bell once again.

At the start of the fourth round, Dubois landed a stiff jab that visibly hurt Joshua. He followed it up with a two-punch combination that didn’t quite connect, but Joshua slipped, and the referee ruled it a knockdown. This decision only fueled Dubois further, as he pressed for the finish, but Joshua showed grit and determination, hanging on despite the onslaught.

Then came the fifth round, where the fight took a dramatic turn. Joshua, perhaps sensing he needed to make something happen, landed a powerful right hand that backed Dubois into a corner. Joshua, now brimming with confidence, unleashed a flurry, including a rear uppercut that landed, though it didn’t seem to have much force. Just as it looked like Joshua might be turning the tide, Dubois countered with a short right hand. It didn’t look particularly devastating, but it was enough to put Joshua down for the count. The arena erupted as Dubois was declared the winner by knockout.

For five rounds, the fight was a thrilling back-and-forth affair. Daniel Dubois, now the IBF heavyweight champion, proved he’s a force to be reckoned with. He demonstrated power, composure, and the ability to capitalize on every opportunity. The heavyweight division just got a lot more interesting, and I can’t wait to see Dubois take on the winner of Usyk vs. Fury. This performance cements Dubois as a major player in the heavyweight landscape.

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