The shocking defeat of Anthony Joshua against Daniel Dubois has sparked a wave of discussion in the boxing community. Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis pointed out that Joshua made a critical mistake and did not know how to defend his chin, leading to a disastrous outcome.
Joshua’s Incorrect Stance
According to British journalist Steve Bunce, Joshua “let his hands drop, exposing his chin” right from the start. Bunce shared on his podcast on September 24, “I was sitting with Lennox Lewis, and just a few seconds in, he asked, ‘Why is Joshua leaving his chin exposed?’ This happened before the fight even began.”
The Fight at Wembley
In the match held at Wembley on September 21, Joshua was knocked down by Dubois in the first round, leaving him dazed and unable to recover. The 34-year-old fighter was knocked down three more times and ended the bout with a knockout in the fifth round during the IBF heavyweight title fight.
Impressive Statistics
According to data from CompuBox, Dubois threw 196 punches throughout the five rounds, landing 79 for an accuracy rate of 40%. In contrast, Joshua only threw 117 punches, with just 32 landing, achieving a 27% accuracy. Dubois also landed 30 of 100 jabs (30%), while Joshua connected on 18 of 82 jabs (22%).
Lennox Lewis’s Disappointment
Lennox Lewis did not hesitate to express his disappointment with Joshua’s defensive skills: “A fighter gets into the ring to fight, but Joshua was not well-prepared. Leaving his chin exposed to Dubois was a serious mistake. Every punch from Dubois put Joshua on the canvas, and he deserves to be the heavyweight champion.”
The Future of Anthony Joshua
Despite the loss, Joshua insists he will not retire and may activate a rematch clause. Dubois is also open to a second fight but wants the opportunity to unify the heavyweight titles in 2025 against the winner of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 21, 2024.
Lennox Lewis: Boxing Legend
Lennox Lewis is considered one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history. He fought professionally from 1989 to 2003, became a three-time world heavyweight champion, and won an Olympic gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Throughout his career, he won 41 of 44 fights, with impressive victories over Vitali Klitschko, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield.
—
This defeat is not just a lesson for Joshua but also opens many opportunities for Dubois, one of the rising stars in the boxing world.
