Tyson Fury has given his verdict on Daniel Dubois’ performance after the underdog knocked out two-time champion Anthony Joshua in a memorable Wembley showdown.

Dubois went into the fight aiming to retain his IBF heavyweight title but knew AJ was looking to join boxing’s elite, including three-time world champion Muhammad Ali.

Taking place in front of a record crowd of 96,000 under the famous dome, the fight promised to be a “firefight” with neither fighter looking to defend or win points, instead going all out for a knockout.

And it was Dubois who put in a mature performance, dominating the two-time champion for four and a half rounds before a dramatic exchange in the fifth round saw the underdog deliver the decisive blow.

After the fight, former champion Fury gave his verdict on the fight and hit out at critics for “underestimating Dubois” ahead of time.

He said: ‘Fantastic job.

‘He did a great job and played fair with young Dan.

‘Everybody was looking down on him, you know. When he came in here, he was world champion and everyone was talking to him like he was homeless.

‘And he showed what he was and that was good for him. Fantastic. Fair play.’

Asked about Joshua’s performance, Fury reminded viewers of his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in May in a fight where the Gypsy King lost on points after being knocked out in the ninth and 11th rounds.

‘Listen, it’s heavyweight boxing – it happens, doesn’t it,’ he said. ‘It happened to me, it could happen to anyone.’

After the fight, AJ expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the highly anticipated bout, which will almost certainly see him miss out on a crucial all-British showdown with long-time rival Fury.

‘Credit goes to [Dubois] and his team,’ he said. ‘We rolled the dice, and we didn’t get it.

‘You know, I was ready to go in the ring, but I’m going to stay calm, be very professional and respect my opponent.

‘I always tell myself I’m a fighter fighting for life… We’re just going to keep playing the odds.

‘I came up against a strong, fast opponent and there were a lot of mistakes on my part, but that’s the game.’

The fight was played at a breakneck pace from the first round, with Joshua enduring a ferocious onslaught from his younger opponent that he won’t soon forget.

A flurry of straight punches was followed by a powerful right hand that stunned Joshua late in the round, sending the former champion to his knees.

Miraculously, Joshua counted the bell just in time to end a stunning opening barrage.

The second three-minute bout played out in a similar fashion. A good shot early in the round stunned AJ but the 34-year-old somehow kept his balance using the ropes and his opponent’s body.

He was only set for more punishment when Dubois landed a powerful left hand midway through the second round.

In the third, Dubois landed another right hand to the Watford player that sent him staggering back as a stunned, almost silent Wembley crowd watched on in amazement at Dubois’s masterful display.

AJ was repeatedly attacked to the body and head, unable to do much to respond to a single punch.

By the end of the third round, the chaos had escalated as Dubois continued to land costly blows, with the bell even ringing before the referee could count.

Having figured it out, he believed Joshua could continue fighting – but for how much longer?

An exciting fight threatened to descend into farce after the former champion stumbled twice at the start of the fourth, causing confusion at Wembley, with the referee counting the first as a fall and counting back a confused Joshua, who defiantly thumped his chest.

A stoppage was called after Dubois punched low, promptly stopping the fight as Joshua was stunned but leaving the angry crowd calling for blood – thousands booing the suffocating decision.

A hot-headed Dubois then charged straight out and hit Joshua again. After such punishment, it was incredible that the pre-fight favourite stood tall and won.

Then came the stunning fifth round.

Between the crucial rounds, Joshua could be heard chatting to his trainer Ben Davison in his corner, with the key message, uttered almost hypnotically, being: ‘roll the dice’.

The former champion was determined to attack Dubois with a powerful right hand that put the young fighter in serious trouble.

As Joshua felt the blood flowing, Dubois then landed the right punch of his life just moments before the two-time champion could land the decisive blow.

This time Joshua was completely outclassed and you think the fight with Fury will be the same.

And roll he did.