Two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has kept alive his ambition to win back a world title with a devastating second-round knockout of Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
French-Cameroonian Ngannou hit the canvas twice before Joshua knocked down the former UFC champion early in the second round, forcing the ‘Predator’ to seek medical treatment.
With the much-needed victory and a superior performance to his rival, Tyson Fury, the 34-year-old Joshua has taken a step closer to a blockbuster undisputed fight against the WBC heavyweight champion who was made to work very hard before he could overcome Ngannou in his debut last October.
The Watford-born fighter of Nigerian descent confirmed he is now in line to face the winner of Fury against Oleksandr Usyk, who beat him twice previously. The pair will fight to become the undisputed heavyweight champion in May, with a rematch later in the year.
“I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again,” Joshua said as Fury watched on from the ringside.
He added: “When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury I thought ‘I want some of that’. (Ngannou) is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities.
“I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he’s fought the best.
In five years I won’t be fighting. Eddie Hearn and my team will shape my future.”
Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, who predicted last December that 2024 “will be massive” for the boxer also called for him to face the winner of Fury and Usyk.
Ngannou, dressed in a pink and white robe with gold tassels, made the solitary walk down the aisle to the tune of God’s Plan by Drake while Joshua, frowning, strutted to the ring with confidence as he knelt down to pray in his corner.
Joshua, who drew the loudest reaction, a mixture of boos and jeers, got down to business by flooring Ngannou within three minutes, what Fury failed to do in 10 rounds four months ago. A stunned Ngannou got up on the count of eight and saw out the round. Another right hand had Ngannou clamouring on the floor. He beat the count in the nick of time but the writing was on the wall before Joshua threw the finishing punch that pinned Ngannou to the canvas in an emphatic stoppage.
Ngannou congratulated his conqueror and admitted afterwards that he never even felt the final punch.
“That was a clean one. In fact, I didn’t feel the punch. That’s what the knockout is about. I don’t feel any pain. That’s how I know I was knocked out. It was quite special because it stopped me.
“It did what Tyson Fury couldn’t do. It wasn’t my day, and he’s just way better than me today. It sucks, but it’s the game, we all know that. It’s the game.”
Joshua’s trainer Ven Davison said: “I didn’t want to disrespect Ngannou but he’s not been hit by someone like AJ before. I’ll let people judge whether he is improving. 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.”
Asked if he wanted to fight the winner of Fury and Usyk, who are set to box in Riyadh on 18 May for the chance to become undisputed heavyweight world champion, Joshua said, “I just want to fight, yes.”
References:
Ellis, Jordan 23 October 2923 “‘They want a mega card’– Anthony Joshua claims he could fight Deontay Wilder on same night as Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk in April”
Alex Pattle, Jack Rayhborn, Michael Jones “Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Boxing results, highlights and fight reaction after crushing knockout last night” INDEPENDENT
