Anthony Joshua took on Francis Ngannou knowing victory could set him up for a shot at Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title - and he duly delivered in emphatic style in Saudi Arabia.
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Anthony Joshua won his fourth straight fight by securing a second-round knockout win over Cameroonian boxer, Francis Ngannou, in the main event of the “Knockout Chaos” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After securing consecutive victories in 2023 with wins over Jermaine Franklin in April and Robert Helenius with a seventh-round knockout in August, Joshua, in December, cruised to a fifth-round technical knockout win over Otto Wallin, who had been expected to be a formidable opponent, especially with his southpaw stance.
Joshua has now secured knockout wins over two fighters who took Tyson Fury the distance in Wallin and Ngannou.
Ngannou shocked fans when he knocked Fury down in their bout last year and because of that performance, fans believed he could pull a shocker against Joshua too.
Joshua, however, silenced the doubters, outboxing Ngannou throughout the two rounds and he made a statement like he promised with a knockout win inside just five minutes of their fight.
The Cameroonian-born boxer needed a doctor after he was knocked out and received oxygen at the corner of the ring before he stood back up.
In the post-match conference, Joshua expressed readiness to face the winner of Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk for a chance back at the world heavyweight titles.
OTHER KEY EVENTS
RESULT: Joseph Parker bts Zhilei Zhang on points23:59
RESULT: Nick Ball and Ray Vargas fight to split draw22:34
RESULT: Israil Madrimov bts Magomed Kurbanov via TKO21:15
RESULT: Mark Chamberlain bts Gavin Gwynne via TKO20:17
RESULT: Justis Huni bts Kevin Lerena on points19:08
HOW JOSHUA STOPPED NGANNOU
Anthony Joshua vowed to deliver and did just that as he brutally KO'd Francis Ngannou inside two rounds in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou dropped and almost stopped Tyson Fury last October but he was absolutely destroyed by Joshua here. The former UFC champion returned to Riyadh to face the Brit, riding a three-fight win streak since his back-to-back defeats by Oleksandr Usyk, but was barely able to get started as Joshua ruthlessly piled in to claim a stunning victory.
He did what Tyson Fury couldn't - and he did it in emphatic fashion. Joshua KO's Ngannou stiff in the second round and leaves him needing oxygen. Ngannou is thankfully up and on his feet for the official decision to be read out.
"It is what it is. What I said was on the route to the championship, you should always stay focused and that was me stepping aside from that misison. But when I saw the fight with him and Tyson Fury, I was like 'Damn this guy can fight.' He's an inspiration, a great champion and this doesn't take away anything from his capabilities.
"I told him that he shouldn't leave boxing, he can go a long way if he stays dedicated but it's up to him. The Ben Davison performance centre. I appreciate them [my team] highly, all of these guys that have helped till this day. I'm still learning and pushing. It only takes one shot in the heavyweight division," Joshua said after his win.
Eddie Hearn was delighted, unsurprisingly. He said: "You’re looking at the baddest man on the planet, the number one heavyweight in the world. I told you that he’s going to come back and become the undisputed heavyweight world champion. What I said would happened, happened and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury."
Fury, watching from ringside, said about Joshua: "He did absolutely fantastic tonight, he lit him up with a right hand and knocked him out."
ROUND ONE
Jab to the body from Joshua to get things underway. Left hook from Ngannou comes up short. Right hand to the body from Ngannou and another jab to the body from Joshua. Ngannou switches to southpaw with a minute left in the first round, right hand from Joshua and NGANNOU IS DOWN! Big first round for Joshua
ROUND 2
Ngannou seems to have recovered after being knocked down, but he is reacting to every feint from Joshua. Another good right hand from Joshua. Double jab from Ngannou but he doesn't follow up with a right hand. Another big right hand from Joshua and NGANNOU IS DOWN AGAIN! Ngannou gets back up by another right hand from AJ and NGANNOU IS OUT COLD!
Fury on Joshua's performance
Fury was impressed with Joshua's win as he said: "I had a s*** performance against Ngannou and I almost got it right, I predicted one round. He did absolutely fantastic tonight, he lit him up with a right hand and knocked him out. That’s what a boxer should have done with him, but if he fights next year it’ll be a different game.
Fury scoffed at Eddie Hearn's claim that Joshua is the best heavyweight in the world, adding: "I'm sure that Oleksandr Usyk will have something to say about that given he beat him twice. For the actual real boxing, it’s me and Usyk who fight for the undisputed heavyweight world championship of the world."
Eddie Hearn talks Joshua's KO
"I’m so proud of him, there was a huge amount of pressure tonight. You’re looking at the baddest man on the planet, the number one heavyweight in the world. I told you that he’s going to come back and become the undisputed heavyweight world champion. What I said would happened, happened and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury," Hearn said.
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