By Abu Mahmood: Anthony Joshua (28-4-0, 25 KOs) challenged Daniel Dubois (22-2-0, 21 KOs) for the IBF heavyweight championship and misplaced by a fifth-round knockout on Saturday evening at Wembley Stadium in London. The struggle performed out like this:
Joshua landed 32 punches out of 117 punches thrown, with 2 of those being landed to the physique. Eighteen out of those have been jabs, and the opposite 14 have been energy punches thrown, with one being landed to the physique.
Joshua was most lively within the third spherical the place he threw 33 punches and landed 9 of those. His least lively spherical was the 4th spherical through which he threw 13 punches and landed 5 earlier than being stopped by Dubois.
Dubois had a robust exhibiting. He threw 196 punches and landed 79 out of them, 10 of which have been landed on the physique. Daniel Dubois had his most lively spherical within the second through which he threw 51 punches and landed 20 of those.
Dubois had the proper recreation plan; he walked Joshua down and pressured him. Anthony Joshua is used to being the larger man and with the ability to deliver the struggle to his opponents. Therefore, it was clear that Joshua was shocked at Dubois’s techniques.
By this tactic, Dubois was capable of dictate the tempo of the struggle, which had Joshua enjoying catch-up from the primary spherical itself. Dubois knocked down Joshua within the first spherical, to the shock of many who had Joshua pegged because the sure-fire winner of this struggle.
Joshua mounted a comeback by rocking Dubois with a shot, however this was the start of the top for Joshua, who, in his aggression, was countered by a devastating proper hand by Dubois, which spelled the top of the struggle.
Dubois now seems ahead to the winner of Fury Vs Usyk 2, while reveling in his new-found superstardom after proving to followers and critics alike that he can hold with one of the best in his division. Dubois has voiced his intention for revenge towards Oleksandr Usyk, after feeling cheated of their final struggle.
Joshua finds himself at a crossroads in his profession, with the Tyson Fury struggle now seemingly inconceivable, does he search for revenge by activating his rematch clause towards Dubois or does he begin a rebuilding section? On the age of 34, he mustn’t waste any time as he runs the danger of the division leaving him behind.
Author’s opinion: The struggle between these two showcased heavyweight boxing at its most interesting and reminded us all why it’s the premier division of boxing. With the panorama of boxing now modified, all eyes now look towards Fury Vs Usyk 2 to supply a clearer view of who will find yourself on the Heavyweight throne.
