Relive coverage of Anthony Joshua’s explosive second-round victory over the former UFC world champion Francis Ngannou
Anthony Joshua propelled himself back into the heavyweight world title picture with a destructive second-round knockout win over Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua, the two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, sent Ngannou to the canvas in the opening round of their fight and then felled him a further two times in an emphatic second round.
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Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion of the world, appeared to be out before he even hit the canvas and required medical treatment before leaving the ring.
The heavyweight contest was just the second professional boxing match of Ngannou’s career, although the Cameroonian impressed in a split decision loss to WBC champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh last October.
Promoter Eddie Hearn afterwards called for Joshua to face the winner of Fury’s upcoming unification showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, who has twice before defeated Joshua.
Fury and Usyk will fight to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion in May, with a rematch agreed to take place later this year.
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Kila H: “Great win, but it’s pretty hilarious to see his manager say there’s no one in the world that can beat him and then in the next sentence show his record has 3 losses on it. Putting down Ngannou that early is no joke though, he’s got a serious chin on him. Now lets see them run it back in MMA.”
Isaac L: “That’s a perfect night for Joshua. A big knockout, embarrassing Fury and propelling himself back into the world title picture.”
Ngannou has switched back to an orthodox stance. His switch to southpaw wasn’t successful in the slightest. But it hasn’t done him much good — Joshua lands another right hand, which connects with Ngannou’s chin. The former UFC champion is once again in trouble.
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Ngannou rallies, but Joshua is making him look like a novice, and Joshua sends him to the canvas for a second time! Again it’s Joshua’s right hand. Ngannou gets to his feet but seconds over he’s down again, Joshua connecting with the right for a third time.
