Frank Warren promised Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois would deliver an all-action fight, and it certainly did.
Joshua and Dubois met in a thrilling heavyweight clash, which saw the latter dominate dropping his rival four times en route to an incredible stoppage in the fifth round, a contender for ‘KO of the Year’.
Joshua and Dubois clashed in a wild record-breaking spectacle in LondonGetty
Prior to the incredible spectacle, which was fought in front of a record-breaking 98,000 crowd, Warren had compared the showdown to the legendary fight between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns.
And it certainly delivered with some huge back and forth exchanges, with his fighter Dubois having his hand raised to cement the changing of the heavyweight guard.
And the Queensberry Promotions’ boss was quick to remind fans of his prediction after the event had concluded.
He said: “It was a phenomenal fight, like Hagler v Hearns.
“A brilliant fight and everybody has seen a champion’s performance tonight.
“Daniel has shown his courage, his skills.
“AJ caught him with a shot towards the end and I was worried, but what a fabulous, fantastic fight.”
Hagler and Hearns famously clashed for the undisputed middleweight crown in 1985, and it delivered one of the most thrilling nights in boxing history.
It was an absolute slugfest between the pair, with powerful blows traded in an action-packed opening round, which is commonly named as the best in squared circle history.
The frantic pace continued until the third round, where Hagler was assessed after a nasty cut opened on his forehead.
Hearns and Hagler met in a sensational bout in 1985, one of the best in historyGETTY
Warren was delighted with how things wentGetty
But amazingly it was he who had his hand raised, as he sent Hearns face first to the canvas, with his rival halted by the referee despite trying desperately to beat the ten count.
Joshua’s defeat to Dubois wasn’t back and forth like the legendary bout, with AJ on the back foot after being pinned with a huge right hand which dropped him in the opener.
Although landing some of his own shots when finally starting to recover in the fifth round, he was slumped by another thumping shot which too sent him face planted to the canvas.
Joshua insisted he will be back however, and has explained that defeats are possibly when you take risks.
“We took a shot at success and we came up short, unfortunately.
“We rolled the dice, man, for the third time. Thirteen world title fights.
“Not everyone has been successful, but everyone has been fun and entertaining.
“We’re trying to create history for British boxing and I think we’re doing that.
“And you’re probably asking, ‘Do I want to continue fighting?’ Of course I want to continue fighting.
“That’s why I said we took a shot at success and we came up short. And what does that mean right now?
“Are we gonna run away and live to fight another day? And that’s what I am.”
