Anthony Joshua proved once again why he is the king of the heavyweight division, as he annihilated former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a spectacular knockout win in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua, who was coming off three consecutive victories, faced his toughest challenge yet in Ngannou, who had stunned the world with his close decision loss to Tyson Fury in his boxing debut last year.
But Joshua showed no fear or hesitation, as he unleashed his devastating power and speed on the Cameroonian giant, who had no answer for the British star’s relentless onslaught.
Joshua dropped Ngannou with a thunderous right hand in the first round, sending a clear message that he was not here to play. Ngannou barely beat the count, but looked shaken and hurt.
In the second round, Joshua went for the kill, landing another crushing right hand that sent Ngannou to the canvas again. Ngannou got up, but only to face more punishment from Joshua, who finished him off with a brutal right hook that knocked him out cold.
The referee waved off the fight, as Joshua celebrated his stunning victory in front of a roaring crowd at the Kingdom Arena. Ngannou was attended by the medical staff, as Joshua showed respect and compassion for his fallen opponent.
Joshua improved his record to 28-1, with 22 knockouts, and cemented his status as the best heavyweight boxer in the world. He also set up a potential mega-fight with the winner of the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk bout, which is scheduled for May 18 at the same venue.
Ngannou, meanwhile, suffered his first knockout loss in boxing, and fell to 1-1. He still remains a formidable force in the MMA world, where he holds a 16-4 record, with 12 knockouts.
Joshua vs Ngannou was a historic event, as it marked the first time that a former UFC champion crossed over to face a former boxing champion in a sanctioned bout. It also generated huge interest and revenue, as it was broadcasted to millions of fans around the world.
The fight lived up to the hype, as it delivered a thrilling and memorable performance from both fighters, who showed courage and skill in the ring. But in the end, it was Joshua who emerged victorious, with a knockout that will go down in history as one of the best ever.
