Short spectacle in Riyadh: Former world champion Anthony Joshua defeated his opponent in the second round.
Former boxing world champion Anthony Joshua made short work of former MMA star Francis Ngannou. The Brit won the supposed spectacle in Riyadh/Saudi Arabia on Saturday night by knockout in the second round.
Joshua had brought the Cameroonian to the ground with a hard right in the first round, and then in the second round he gave the 37-year-old no chance. “I told him not to give up boxing. He has two fights behind him and he fought against the best,” said 34-year-old Joshua, who, according to media reports, paid $50 million (46 million euros) for the fight won the fight and celebrated his 28th victory in the 31st fight.
After his career stalled due to defeats against the Ukrainian WBA, WBO and IBF champion Alexander Usyk (37), Joshua wants to get back among the top contenders for a heavyweight world championship fight. The clear success immediately sparked speculation about a megafight against either Usyk or Tyson Fury, who duel in Saudi Arabia in May.
“You see the number one heavyweight in the world,” said Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn immediately: “In this form there is no man who can beat him. Tyson Fury, please beat Usyk because you will have the biggest fight in history of sport.”
It was only Ngannou’s second professional boxing competition. Last October, the ex-UFC champion surprisingly sent WBC world champion Fury (35) to the ground and brought him to the brink of defeat.