Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s career has taken a hit of late, but he could return to the top if he beat Daniel Dubois for the IBF title. However, the opponent, whose merits were belittled in every possible way before the fight, put the presumptuous Joshua and his team in their place.

“I’ll hit you with this fucking chair”

Dubois has held the IBF interim title since June 1 of this year. He won it in a duel with Filip Hrgovic, inflicting the Croatian’s first defeat in his career: the stone man lasted only eight rounds.

Daniel’s next opponent was Joshua. What can’t be taken away from Anthony is a cool team. Eddie Hearn and his promotion company know how to get great fights for their clients. After the last defeat, AJ was given three passable boxers, as well as the popular MMA fighter Francis Ngannou, whom he dealt with in the second round, discouraging the Cameroonian from returning to boxing.

There were several other good contenders for the main IBF title. The same offender of our Arslanbek Makhmudov, Agit Kabayel (25-0), deserves the most flattering reviews. But Joshua has a big name from which he can earn millions for a long time.

Naturally, it was decided to hold the fight between the two Britons in London – at the legendary Wembley Stadium. 96 thousand tickets sold out like hot cakes, and the organizers rubbed their hands together in contentment, rejoicing that they again managed to push the pretentious Joshua into the championship fight.

For Anthony’s sake, they even broke the established tradition when the champion is allowed to weigh in second, but before this fight Dubois stepped on the scales first. And among experts, the interim champion was considered a big underdog. In addition, Joshua additionally tried to psychologically break Daniel.

“I’ll hit you in the face with this fucking chair.” “Don’t disrespect me,” Joshua said at one of the sterdowns.

Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois / Photo: © Richard Pelham / Freelancer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Beating up the arrogant

Dubois again entered the ring first, wearing a simple cape. But the pretentious Joshua appeared in front of a crowd of thousands in a white robe with rhinestones, but only they shone that evening. From the very first round, the interim champion began to beat the arrogance out of his star opponent.

Daniel immediately took control of the center of the ring and began to deliver very heavy jabs to Joshua’s face over and over again. By the middle of the round, AJ had to enter the clinch to stop his opponent’s pressure. A few seconds before the gong, Joshua was even on the floor after missing a blow to the jaw, but still managed to get up. The opponent simply did not have time to finish off.

In the second round, Dubois rushed to build on his success. Despite the fearful look, Anthony survived this segment without falling, but received quite significant damage. In the next three minutes, Daniel again knocked down his opponent, although this happened again in the last seconds.

In the fourth round, Joshua’s legs “danced” separately from his body. It was only due to his character that he made it to the end. But everything was decided in the next three minutes. Anthony rushed to save the situation, but was hit in the jaw while exchanging blows. This was the end of the fight. AJ was no longer able to get up – the first knockout defeat in the boxer’s career.

After such a defeat, you can’t stop admiring Joshua’s team, which included a rematch option in the fight contract. Anthony has not yet managed to put his head in order, and Hearn has already announced that the boxer will activate the re-fight clause.