At Wembley Stadium, Anthony Joshua’s bid for a third world championship title came to an abrupt end on Saturday night. The highly anticipated IBF world heavyweight title bout against Daniel Dubois concluded with Joshua being floored multiple times before the referee called a halt to the contest in the fifth round.
What made this outcome even more remarkable was the eerie prediction made by Shane McGuigan, a former trainer of Dubois, who was providing commentary for the fight. Just moments before the decisive round, McGuigan expressed concern over the advice given to Joshua by his corner.
As Joshua’s team instructed him to “get in behind that double jab, bring it up, roll the dice,” McGuigan voiced his reservations. “I think that’s dangerous advice there to be honest,” he cautioned. “Getting him to bring it up off the double jab, Daniel throws that right hand straight off that double jab and by bringing it up he means an uppercut.”
McGuigan’s analysis proved prophetic as the fight unfolded exactly as he had anticipated. Joshua, following his corner’s guidance, found himself vulnerable to Dubois’ powerful right hand, leading to the knockout that stunned the record-breaking crowd of 98,128 spectators.
In the aftermath of the bout, questions arose about Joshua’s future in the sport. However, the 34-year-old boxer quickly addressed these concerns, expressing his determination to continue his career. In a video shared on social media, Joshua reflected on his journey, stating, “We came up short but we’ve got to look at all the positives. That’s the mindset and that’s the perspective we’ve got to have; a positive one always.”
Joshua acknowledged the challenges he faces but remained optimistic about his ability to overcome them. “It’s far from over yet,” he declared, emphasizing his commitment to improvement and hard work. He also expressed gratitude to his supporters, thanking them for being part of his “rollercoaster journey.”
