Why did Joshua lose? McGregor, Fury, Crawford and others expressed their opinions

Anthony Joshua's defeat to Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title yesterday was quite the shock. Many predicted the former champion would emerge victorious, but Dubois dominated the fight, ultimately delivering a knockout.

The bout attracted many notable figures, including prominent boxers and fighters. Among those spotted in the crowd were Conor McGregor, Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, Terence Crawford, Eddie Hearn, and several other high-profile names. After the fight, many shared their thoughts on why Joshua lost.

• Also read: Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois: schedule and results of the boxing night

Details: Following the bout, journalists eagerly sought the reactions of the celebrities in attendance.

Previously, it was reported that the outcome surprised Oleksandr Usyk, who had expected a Joshua win.

However, other guests also offered their opinions:

Quote: MMA legend Conor McGregor remarked that the conditions weren’t equal but expressed faith in Joshua’s return:

"There was no pressure on Dubois. He was very calm, very composed.

AJ is number one. A legend. Through and through. But this is boxing. Sometimes you catch them; sometimes they catch you. He can definitely come back!"

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury praised Dubois for his performance and reflected on why Joshua lost:

"First off, give credit where it’s due. Dan did an outstanding job. You know, before the fight, people were writing him off, treating him like some bum despite being a champion. But he showed what he's made of. Fantastic result for him."

Regarding Joshua’s failure, Fury added:

"What went wrong? The same thing that always goes wrong in heavyweight — a good right to the chin. That’s all it takes. This is the heavyweight division. One punch can knock you out. It could happen to anyone, including me. In this division, you're always on the edge."

When asked if it was time for Joshua to retire, Fury said:

"That's up to him. If he’s still got the ambition, he’ll return. He’s a big boy. He’ll make his own decision. I thought it was a 50/50 fight. Dubois is much younger, and that matters. AJ’s around my age, and, you know, age doesn’t spare anyone." - BoxingScene quotes him.

Terence Crawford, another former world champion, also weighed in. When asked if Dubois' win was an upset, he firmly disagreed:

"Absolutely not! The stronger man won. Dubois exploited AJ’s vulnerabilities and came out on top. It was a great fight. I think Joshua got too overconfident, even when he was knocked out. He hurt Dubois and rushed in to finish him, forgetting basic defense.

Will AJ bounce back? He’s been through a lot of these kinds of battles. He’s fought many great fighters. I think he’ll return, but it won’t be easy. Wear and tear build up." - BoxingScene quotes him.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, also shared his frustration with a moment in the fight:

"In this fight, AJ tried to get up even after that knockout punch. I think he can look at himself in the mirror and say, ‘You weren’t good enough, but you gave everything you had.’

There was a lot of talk about when AJ took a knee and spit out his mouthguard. Listen, Dubois hit him low. It was in the 3rd or 4th round. I was screaming for AJ to take all five minutes to recover.

But he rushed back in, saying, 'I’m fine.' I was yelling, ‘What the are you doing?’ You know why he did that? Because he was out there to fight."

Reminder: After the fight, Joshua called himself a "true warrior" and confirmed that he has no plans to retire.