Joshua, the odds-on favorite, struggled from the opening bell. Dubois' speed advantage became clear immediately, and 'AJ' found himself on the canvas at the end of the first round.
Joshua's troubles didn't end there. He hit the deck two more times in the next three rounds. The 34-year-old showed tremendous heart by getting up each time, but his legs grew increasingly unsteady.
In the fifth round, Joshua had his best moment of the fight. He hurt Dubois and looked to turn the tide. But in a cruel twist of fate, Dubois landed a devastating blow that ended the contest.
Ben Davison, Joshua's trainer, revealed the corner considered throwing in the towel as the fight slipped away.
"Yeah of course, you have to keep that in mind when a fight is going like that, it's something you have to be aware of."
Davison also shared a glimpse into Joshua's mindset before the final round:
"These are the moments we live for. Tough moments."
Joshua spoke about "rolling the dice" in those final moments. Davison explained:
"Joshua hurt Daniel but was just a little bit reckless in terms of his application right in the final moments."
Despite the crushing loss, Joshua has dismissed talk of retirement. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed a rematch clause exists and is under consideration.
The boxing world will watch closely to see if Joshua can rebuild once again or if this loss marks the end of an era in the heavyweight division.