Anthony Joshua shows true colours as Daniel Dubois destroys him

Anthony Joshua was knocked out in the fifth round by IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley, but vowed to fight on despite the defeat

Anthony Joshua is refusing to retire and will fight on, despite suffering a crushing defeat within five rounds by IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley. During the bout, Joshua was sent to the canvas four times due to Dubois' relentless attack from the outset, ultimately leading to a count-out after a fierce exchange.

It was a stunning defeat, the fourth of Joshua's career, and laid bare his limitations as an elite level fighter against the very best.

However, the fighter remained steadfast in his resolve not to give up, saying: "You're probably asking if I still want to consider fighting. Of course I want to continue fighting.

"We took a shot at success and we came up short. What does that mean now? That we're going to run away? We're going to live to fight another day. And that's what I am, I'm a warrior."

He continued with a message of perseverance, "Always walk with your head high. We rolled the dice for the third time. There have been 13 world-title fights, not every one of them has been successful but every one has been fun and entertaining."

Acknowledging the slim margin for error, Joshua noted, "There were a few mistakes in there but that's the name of the game. Fine margins will cost you at the top level."

In a final note, Joshua extended commendations to his opponent: "Also before I finish, we have to give credit our opponent Daniel. When I sign up to fight opponents, I don't really like them in my head any more. But now that it's done, I take my hat off to him and say well done."

Joshua was visibly shaken after being knocked down by a powerful overhand right from Dubois near the end of the first round, managing to beat the count just as the bell saved him.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, remains supportive of his fighter's career, citing Joshua's ability to shake Dubois with consecutive right hands in the fifth round as a sign of his resilience.

"Everyone is very fickle, aren't they? Yesterday he was in the form of his life, has never looked better wow, this is unbelievable this new resurgence," Hearn commented on the public's reaction.

"He has a bad start, gets dropped, tries to recover his feet and just goes to war with no legs. And finds a way back into the fight and walks on to one."

"It's heavyweight boxing and that was the danger of this fight. It was a thriller and we just felt the tide was about to change, but you have to give Daniel credit."

After suffering defeats at the hands of Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, which led to accusations of quitting, Dubois managed to come back and achieve a remarkable win.

Dubois is now poised to see what happens in the upcoming rematch between Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21 as he aims for the title of undisputed heavyweight champion.

"It was going to be my night tonight, by any means necessary. They were all saying I was going to get knocked out but we all saw who got knocked out," Dubois declared following his victory.

"I did the business and I'm glad I proved everyone wrong. But this is just the start of my journey. I want to get my rematch (against Usyk) and put that wrong right."

"The Lord had my back tonight and I had my family around me. I couldn't be denied."

"He could have thrown everything at me and I would have come through it. It felt like a dream in the ring. I just had to seize the moment."