Anthony Joshua‘s career is on the ropes following an absolute battering from Daniel Dubois in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

The former two-time heavyweight champion entered the ring a sizeable favourite but was on the back foot from the opening bell, beaten to the punch by the sharper, quicker and heavier-handed Dubois.

Dubois bullied ‘AJ’ for the best part of five rounds before landing the punch of his life to end it, just after he was wobbled himself. It marked the first defence of his new IBF Heavyweight World Title and a legitimisation of his status as one of the best in the world.

Pre-fight, many were talking up an ‘AJ’ win being the path to the fight with Tyson Fury that fans have been demanding for years now. Of course, Dubois turned those plans upside down and now could find himself facing the winner of Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk later in the year.

‘The Gypsy King’ was ringside for the event and gave his immediate reaction to Queensberry Promotions.

“He [Dubois] did a fantastic job. He did a very good job and fair play to young Dan. Everybody wrote him off you know, coming here he was the world champion and everyone chatted like he was bum and he showed what he’s made of and it’s very good for him, fantastic, fair play.”

When asked what’s next for Joshua, Fury was respectful.

“Listen it’s heavyweight boxing, it happens doesn’t it. It can happen to me, it can happen to anybody.”

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn talked up a rematch clause in his post-fight interview, although many in the sport will strongly advise Joshua against it given how things played out tonight.