Don Charles, trainer of Daniel Dubois, has revealed that he felt his fighter had already beaten Anthony Joshua before the fight even began. Dubois, stepping into Wembley Stadium as an underdog, shocked the boxing world by dropping the heavily favored Joshua four times, ultimately winning with a fifth-round stoppage.

According to Charles, the key to Dubois’ victory was Joshua’s demeanor during the ring walk. He observed Joshua appearing “hypnotized” and disconnected, which filled Dubois’ team with confidence. Charles explained, “When I looked across the ring, I saw a man who looked like he was in a trance. He looked like he was hypnotized.”

Charles noticed something unusual about Joshua’s energy, recalling that Joshua appeared overwhelmed by the magnitude of the event. Despite pressure and expectations from the crowd, Charles said Dubois remained composed and ready to fight like a “hunter.”

Even those ringside, like pundit Simon Jordan, echoed similar sentiments. Jordan claimed that the immense pressure of performing in front of a record-breaking 96,000-strong crowd may have played a role in Joshua’s state of mind. He noted that Joshua seemed “haunted” by the atmosphere, while Dubois embraced the opportunity to make a statement.

The fight was reminiscent of past moments where Joshua’s pre-fight mentality was questioned, notably during his shocking 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. at Madison Square Garden. Now, with Joshua’s future in question, discussions of a possible rematch in 2025 are already being floated by promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren. Meanwhile, Dubois’ victory puts him in line for potential high-profile bouts, possibly against the winner of the Usyk vs. Fury rematch.

This fight will certainly be remembered for not only Dubois’ physical dominance but also the mental aspect of the sport, where Charles believes Joshua was already defeated before the first punch was even thrown.