Eddie Hearn Criticizes ‘Inexperience’ Anthony Joshua after Knockout Defeat to Dubois

Daniel Dubois delivered a stunning performance, on September 21, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London knocking out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round to retain the IBF world heavyweight title.

The fight, witnessed by 96,000 fans, saw Dubois dominate from the opening bell, knocking Joshua down early and maintaining relentless pressure throughout the bout.

British sports promoter Eddie Hearn, who has promoted many world champion boxers including Joshua, was critical of Joshua's decision-making during the fight. In particular, Hearn highlighted an incident in the fourth round when Dubois landed a low blow on Joshua.

Referee Marcus McDonnell stopped the fight briefly to issue a warning to Dubois, but Joshua did not take advantage of the boxing rule that allows up to five minutes for recovery from a low blow. Instead, Joshua signaled to continue the fight immediately.

Hearn described this as a moment of "inexperience" from Joshua, stating, "At that point when he couldn’t stand up, he’s been hit full-blown in the conkers, all he’s got to do to the ref is [say] but that is not him. He just went to the ref, ‘I’m fine, come on, let’s go’.”

Hearn added, “People talk about him taking the knee, spitting a gumshield out, listen, when Daniel Dubois hit him in the nuts in the third or fourth round, I’m screaming at AJ to take the full five minutes.”

Despite the criticism, Hearn acknowledged Joshua's heart and determination, noting that even in the final moments, Joshua was scrambling to get up after being knocked down. "People always question people’s heart, even the last knockout he’s scrambling to get up, he couldn’t have tried another inch, and that’s all you can give to people," Hearn remarked.

Joshua himself remained resolute after the fight, stating, "You know I'm ready to kick off in the ring, but I'm going to keep my cool, keep very professional, and give respect to my opponent. I'm always saying to myself I'm a fighter for life... we came up short."

The fight marked a major setback for Joshua, whose record now stands at 28 wins and 4 losses. Meanwhile, Dubois, with a career mark of 22-2, solidified his status as one of the top heavyweights in the world with this victory.