For Joshua, this victory marks the most destructive knockout of his career, following recent statement stoppages over Finnish and Swedish boxers, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.
By Emmanuel Okoro
British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua, in a display of power and skill, delivered a devastating second-round knockout to Cameroonian fighter, Francis Ngannou, solidifying his quest for a third world championship title. The electrifying match occurred on Friday, March 8th, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, captivating audiences worldwide with its ferocity and spectacle.
The clash witnessed Joshua asserting his dominance from the opening bell. A ferocious right hand from Joshua in the first round sent Ngannou reeling. The next round saw Joshua floor Ngannou twice, with the second knockdown leaving the former UFC heavyweight champion sprawled on the canvas, unable to continue.
For Joshua, this victory marks the most destructive knockout of his career, following recent statement stoppages over Finnish and Swedish boxers, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin. The win reignites Joshua’s pursuit of another shot at a world title, as he will face the winner of the anticipated clash between Britain’s Tyson Fury and Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Reflecting on his win, Joshua expressed admiration for Ngannou’s skills, recognising his potential for future success in the sport, saying, “When I saw the fight with Fury, I thought damn, this guy could fight, I wanted a piece of that. He’s an inspiration, a great champion, and this shouldn’t take away from his capabilities. He can come again”.
Meanwhile, Ngannou, despite suffering his second defeat in two boxing matches, remained resolute in his determination to continue in the sport. Dismissing notions of a permanent return to MMA, he acknowledged Joshua’s superiority in the ring. “You can be sure I’m not done here. It wasn’t my day. He was way better than me today. He did what Tyson couldn’t do. In fact, I didn’t feel the punch. I think that’s what a knockout is about. I don’t feel any pain. That’s how I know I was knocked out”.