Two-time world champion Anthony Joshua knocked out blended martial arts star Francis Ngannou in simply the second round of their widely-hyped heavyweight clash on Saturday, with his promoter rapidly declaring him the division’s “number one” fighter.
Joshua had his Cameroonian opponent on the canvas within the first spherical and twice extra within the second in a brutal and transient exhibition of punching energy.
Ngannou, 37, a former UFC heavyweight champion, was participating in solely his second skilled boxing match, having misplaced a break up choice to Tyson Fury in an October battle that noticed him put the WBC champion on the canvas within the third spherical.
“I thought this fight was something for the broadcasters to get behind,” Joshua instructed DAZN after his quickfire victory.
“When I noticed the battle with Tyson Fury, I believed, ‘I want some of that’. He is a superb champion and this doesn’t take something away from his capabilities.
“I told (Ngannou) not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he fought the best.”
Anthony Joshua, a former unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, went into the battle on the again of three successive wins.
Before that, nevertheless, he misplaced back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk, who will tackle Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia in May.
The battle solely received below manner at 3:30 am native time (0030 GMT), however weary followers loved a sensational begin when Joshua rapidly despatched Ngannou to the canvas within the opening spherical with a brutal proper to the chin.
It received worse for the Cameroonian when he was knocked down once more within the second spherical, simply managing to beat the rely.
His resistance lasted just a few extra moments after he was despatched to the canvas once more for the third and remaining time.
‘Sitting duck’
Ngannou lay on his again for a while and wanted medical remedy contained in the ring earlier than being helped again to his stool.
Joshua, 34, was reportedly being paid $50 million for his conflict with the MMA star, whose rags-to-riches story had captivated the game.
Ngannou grew up in abject poverty, working as a toddler labourer in a sand quarry for below $2 a day.
He then made his technique to Europe, even sleeping tough in a parking lot in Paris earlier than an area coach took him below his wing and steered him to boxing.
Anthony Joshua’s victory instantly sparked feverish speak of a mega-fight with both Usyk or Fury.
“You’re looking at the number one heavyweight in the world,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn.
“On this kind, there is no such thing as a man that may beat him. Tyson Fury, please beat Usyk, as a result of you’re going to get the most important battle within the historical past of the game.
“He destroyed Francis Ngannou. He’s a beast and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury.”
Joshua’s coach Ben Davison instructed the BBC that “the only way to find out who is the best is to get the winner of Fury and Usyk. That’s the only thing that makes sense.”
However, not each ringside observer was impressed with the transient flurry of brutality.
“That highlighted what happens when a world class heavyweight has a free shot on a sitting duck,” Boxing News editor Matt Christie wrote on social media platform X.
“Hopefully no need to see that kind of fight again.”
He could get his want, as Ngannou is scheduled to return to MMA later within the 12 months.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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