Former unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua defeated Cameronian UFC star-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou with a brutal second-round knockout.
A confident display from Joshua saw drop the former UFC heavyweight champion in the first round and twice more in the second round to the surprise of many in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, 37, who was taking part in only his second professional boxing match having lost a split decision to Tyson Fury in October had no answer for the furious and swift Joshua who pulled an ‘Italian job’ on his African counterpart.
The much-anticipated match attended by a star-studded guest including football icons Jose Mourinho, and Ronaldo De Lima, amongst others ended after just two rounds with Joshua handing the Cameroonian two knockdowns to claim victory leaving the crowd, including Tyson Fury, shocked.
“I thought this fight was something for the broadcasters to get behind,” Joshua told broadcaster DAZN after his quickfire victory.
“When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury, I thought, ‘I want some of that’. He is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities.
“I told (Ngannou) not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he fought the best.”
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter at Matchroom Boxing, said “There is no man in the world who can beat him in the heavyweight division.”
“You’re looking at the number one heavyweight in the world,” Hearn added.
“On this form, there is no man that can beat him. Tyson Fury, please beat Usyk, because you will get the biggest fight in the history of the sport.
“He destroyed Francis Ngannou. He’s a beast and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury.”
Joshua (28-3) has now won four in a row with recent victories over Ngannou, Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin.
The 34-year-old was reportedly being paid $50million, according to AFP, while Sport Business Journal reported that AJ was billed to earn £30million for his heavyweight showdown against Ngannou, a similar fee he earned around £30million for his three wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin last year.
SBJ added that Ngannou will make £16million, six million more than the £10million the Cameroonian made for fighting Fury.
