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London, UK - In a career-defining victory, Daniel Dubois stunned the boxing world with a sensational knockout win over Anthony Joshua in the fifth round, marking his arrival as a legitimate force in the heavyweight division. Dubois, who now holds the IBF title, overcame previous setbacks and silenced critics with this monumental achievement.
In 2020, Dubois’ reputation took a massive hit when he suffered his first professional defeat against Joe Joyce. Entering the ring as one of Britain’s most promising heavyweights, Dubois lost by 10th-round knockout after sustaining a severe eye injury. His decision to take the 10-count after taking a jab drew sharp criticism from pundits and fans alike. Some saw him as lacking the warrior spirit required for top level competition, and his future seemed uncertain.
Despite his early success, the loss to Joyce left many questioning Dubois’ resilience and mental toughness. In a sport where fighters are often praised for enduring severe pain to achieve victory, Dubois’ choice sparked controversy, tarnishing his once-unblemished record. However, under the watchful eye of veteran promoter Frank Warren, Dubois began the difficult task of rebuilding his career.
Dubois’ comeback began with wins against lesser-known opponents like Bogdan Dinu and Joe Cusumano. These victories helped restore his confidence and lay the groundwork for his eventual return to facing higher level competition. While some doubted his ability to recover from the Joyce defeat, Warren remained confident in Dubois’ potential, continuing to guide him toward bigger opportunities.
In 2022, Dubois captured the WBA (Regular) title by defeating Don King's last heavyweight hope, Trevor Bryan, in a decisive performance that showcased his growth as a professional. Though still not considered on par with top-tier heavyweights like Joshua, Tyson Fury, or Oleksandr Usyk, Dubois was steadily climbing the ladder. However, his next bout against Kevin Lerena in a defense of his title presented new challenges and questions.
Dubois found himself on the canvas three times against Lerena in the opening round, raising more concerns about his ability to handle adversity. Nonetheless, he rallied and stopped Lerena in the third round, demonstrating a newfound grit and proving that he could battle through tough situations. The performance reinforced his mental toughness, but many critics still felt he needed to do much more to even be considered a threat to the title.
Dubois’ real test came when he faced Oleksandr Usyk in 2023 for a shot at the Unified Heavyweight Championship. Though he gave a valiant effort and even knocked Usyk down with a 'controversial' low blow, Dubois ultimately suffered another defeat, this time by a ninth-round knockout. The loss rekindled memories of his fight against Joyce, with some questioning whether Dubois was forever destined to be a “nearly man”.
Looking to continue his previous rebuild, Dubois faced off against tough American fringe-contender Jarrell Miller in Saudi Arabia. While Miller did have his moments, he eventually was stopped in the tenth round of an intense affair. Dubois surprised pundits with his stoppage win over Miller, but many argued that Miller wasn't the terror that he'd once been billed as. Dubois left no doubt that his rebuild was far more than hype when he beat up and savagely stopped undefeated IBF mandatory contender Filip Hrgovic only a few months later setting the stage for his next big test.
Dubois accepted a showdown with Anthony Joshua—arguably the biggest challenge of his career. Joshua, the former two-time Unified Heavyweight Champion, was expected to win easily, and most believed Dubois didn’t have the experience or skill to come out on top. Dubois had other plans.
On a historic night in London, in front of a crowd of over 98,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, Dubois shocked the world by defeating Joshua via a fifth-round knockout. From the opening bell, Dubois applied pressure and repeatedly hurt Joshua, dropping him in the first round and controlling the pace of the fight. In the fourth round, Dubois delivered a devastating left hook that sent Joshua to the canvas once again. The fight culminated in the fifth round when Dubois landed a crushing right hand that ended the contest and catapulted him to the top of the heavyweight ranks with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Dubois' victory over Joshua was the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and determination. In a fight where many expected him to falter, Dubois showcased his incredible power, composure, and ability to rise to the occasion. The win not only solidified his status as a top heavyweight contender but also silenced the critics who had doubted him since his loss to Joyce.
Despite his impressive victory, Dubois’ future remains uncertain. Promoter Frank Warren has expressed hesitation about matching him against Tyson Fury, the former Unified Champion, should Fury defeat Oleksandr Usyk in their highly anticipated rematch later this year for the World Heavyweight Championship. Warren, who promotes both Dubois and Fury, has stated that it would put him in an “awkward position” to make the fight, though he hasn’t ruled it out entirely if the business side of things makes sense.
Meanwhile, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has called for a rematch, and Dubois' team is open to the idea. With no immediate rematch clause in place, however, Dubois holds the cards and will decide what’s next for his career. Options include a potential rematch with Joshua, a second shot at Usyk, or even a showdown with Fury, depending on the outcome of the December bout.
As for Dubois himself, he remains focused on his journey to becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. After his victory over Joshua, he declared that he already feels like the champion and has set his sights on future bouts with both Fury and Usyk. He’s also keen to prove that his loss to Usyk was a learning experience and that he can defeat the Ukrainian in a rematch.
Daniel Dubois’ journey from being written off after his 2020 loss to Joe Joyce to knocking out Anthony Joshua and reclaiming his place among the heavyweight elite is one of boxing’s most remarkable comeback stories. At just 27 years old, Dubois has already experienced more ups and downs than many fighters face in their entire careers. But through it all, he has shown resilience, determination, and a refusal to give up on his dreams.
With the heavyweight division more competitive than ever and the potential for massive fights on the horizon, Dubois is poised to become one of the sport’s biggest stars. Whether he faces Fury, Usyk, or Joshua next, one thing is certain: Daniel Dubois is here to stay, and his future in boxing looks brighter than ever.
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