Anthony Joshua was ‘put in a trance and hypnosis’ by Daniel Dubois, says star’s trainer after Wembley battering
ANTHONY JOSHUA “looked like he was in hypnosis” just moments before fighting Daniel Dubois.
Dubois dropped AJ four times on the way to a stunning fifth-round knockout in front of a British-record 98,000 fans.
And the win is even more remarkable considering his head trainer Don Charles was not present in the days before the bout amid illness.
Charles and Dubois’ team were forced to deny claims they had sensationally split only hours before the first bell sounded.
It all built to a stunning upset as Joshua was knocked out by a thudding right hand in round five.
But experienced cornerman Charles could see the writing on the wall.
He said on talkSPORT: “My duty and focus is on us, but I know Anthony Joshua very well.
“But when I looked across the ring, I saw a man who looked like he was in a trance.
“He looked like he was in hypnosis, like he had been hypnotised. I am experienced, I can pick up on things.
“I thought ‘we’d got you’, because I didn’t recognise the person I know. He was under hypnosis.
“They said Daniel was going to get stage fright, but he looked like a man who was in a state of shock.
“He was like ‘oh my god this is real now’, he could also feel the energy from the opposition.”
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A rematch is now on the cards after Joshua refused retirement.
His promoter Eddie Hearn claimed there is a rematch clause but opposite number Frank Warren argued they are not obligated for a second fight.
Dubois meanwhile is open to a rematch with AJ or Oleksandr Usyk, 37, who beat him in nine rounds last year.