This Saturday night, September 21, 2024, saw Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois clash in what proved to be a record-breaking night for British boxing, with a staggering 96,000 fans in attendance at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. The highly anticipated bout saw Daniel Dubois aim to defend his IBF world title against Anthony Joshua, who was hoping to become a three-time world champion. However, the build-up to the fight was overshadowed by questions surrounding Dubois’ team, as his head trainer, Don Charles, was conspicuously absent from the Grand Arrivals and other key fight week events.
The main event headlined an undercard packed with all-British match-ups, including Anthony Cacace vs Josh Warrington, Josh Kelly vs Ishmael Davis, Tyler Denny vs Hamzah Sheeraz, and Mark Chamberlain vs Josh Padley, all of which delivered their own drama and decisive outcomes.
Fighters’ Form and Road to Wembley
Daniel Dubois, known as “Dynamite,” entered the contest with a professional record of 21 wins and 2 losses, with 20 of his victories coming by knockout. The 27-year-old was on a strong run of form, having secured a TKO win over Kevin Lerena in December 2022, followed by a stoppage loss to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk in August 2023. Demonstrating resilience, Dubois bounced back with an impressive series of stoppages, defeating Jarrell Miller in December 2023 and Filip Hrgovic in June 2024. His victory over Hrgovic earned him the IBF interim belt, which was subsequently upgraded to the full IBF world heavyweight title on June 26, 2024, after Usyk vacated the belt.
Anthony Joshua, the 34-year-old former two-time unified heavyweight champion, also came into the fight with considerable momentum. His professional record stood at 28 wins and 3 losses, with 25 of his victories by knockout. Joshua had impressed recently, securing a seventh-round knockout over Robert Helenius in August 2023, followed by a fifth-round technical knockout of Otto Wallin in December 2023. Most recently, he delivered a devastating second-round knockout of former UFC star Francis Ngannou in March 2024. Many attributed AJ’s revitalized success to his new partnership with trainer Ben Davison, whom he began working with after the Helenius fight.
The Missing Trainer Controversy
The Grand Arrivals for the event occurred in Leicester Square, and notably, Daniel Dubois’ trainer, Don Charles, was nowhere to be seen. This absence extended to Dubois’ public workout as well. When asked of his whereabouts, Dubois stated, ‘I have no idea where he is, all that matters is he’s there on fight night’.
Speculation quickly mounted regarding the reasons for Charles’ absence, with some suggesting a potential rift within the camp. However, reports emerged that Don Charles was suffering from a cold or flu and had made the decision to stay away from his fighter and the rest of the camp to prevent the spread of illness, ensuring Dubois remained healthy for the biggest fight of his career. Despite the official explanation, the situation remained a talking point, especially on a week where a trainer and their fighter are typically inseparable. It was confirmed that Dubois’ father, Dave, was licensed to be in his corner on fight night, providing a crucial presence for the young champion.
Fight Night: Dubois Stuns Joshua at Wembley
The highly anticipated IBF heavyweight title clash took place on September 21, 2024, at a packed Wembley Stadium. Daniel Dubois, entering as the underdog, delivered a dominant and shocking performance, securing a fifth-round knockout victory over Anthony Joshua to retain his IBF world title.
From the opening bell, Dubois adopted an aggressive approach, meeting Joshua in the center of the ring. He quickly established his jab and landed a powerful overhand right that sent Joshua to the canvas at the end of the first round. Joshua managed to beat the count but appeared unsteady. Dubois continued to apply relentless pressure in the subsequent rounds, frequently rocking Joshua. The two-time world champion was knocked down again in the third round by a barrage of punches and a left hand, and twice more in the fourth, though one instance was ruled a slip.
In the fifth round, Joshua attempted to mount a comeback, landing a powerful straight right hand that briefly wobbled Dubois. However, as Joshua pressed forward attempting to capitalize, Dubois countered with a perfectly timed short right hand to the chin. This decisive blow sent Joshua to the canvas for the final time, and he was unable to beat the referee’s count. The fight was officially waved off at 0:59 of the fifth round. Statistics from the fight revealed Dubois landed 79 of his 196 punches (40.3% accuracy), significantly out-landing Joshua, who connected with 32 of his 117 punches (27.4% accuracy). The judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage read 40-33 in favor of Dubois.
Undercard Highlights and Divisional Implications
The undercard delivered several notable results. Anthony Cacace successfully defended his IBO World Super-Featherweight Championship against Josh Warrington via unanimous decision, with scorecards of 117-111, 118-110, and 117-111. Following the contest, Warrington appeared to signal his retirement from the sport. In a middleweight clash, Josh Kelly secured a majority decision victory over Ishmael Davis, with scores of 115-113, 115-114, and 114-114. Hamzah Sheeraz made quick work of Tyler Denny, winning the European, Commonwealth, and WBC Silver Middleweight titles with a second-round TKO. In a significant upset, Josh Padley defeated Mark Chamberlain by unanimous decision in their lightweight bout. Additionally, Joshua Buatsi claimed the interim WBO light-heavyweight title with a split decision victory over Willy Hutchinson.
Dubois’ victory over Joshua was widely regarded as a major upset in the boxing world, solidifying his position as a formidable force in the heavyweight division. The win meant Dubois retained his IBF heavyweight title, and the outcome immediately sparked discussions about the future of both fighters. Prior to the fight, the winner was expected to face the victor of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch. Dubois has since expressed a strong interest in a rematch with Usyk, potentially for an undisputed title. For Anthony Joshua, the knockout loss led to considerable speculation about his ability to compete at the highest level and his next steps in a career that has seen both incredible highs and challenging setbacks.
Regarding Don Charles, despite the pre-fight uncertainty, he eventually parted ways with Daniel Dubois in August 2025, nearly a year after the monumental victory over Joshua, with Tony Sims taking over as Dubois’ trainer.
Follow NoSmokeBoxing on X.
