ANTHONY Joshua made good his promise to ‘deliver’ against Francis Ngannou with a devastating knockout victory overnight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nigerian-Briton two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Joshua was a class above the Cameroonian mixed martial arts fighter in the boxing bout.
The vast difference in experience was on full display at the Kingdom Arena as Joshua, who was fighting for the 31st time, knocked out Ngannou in the second round.
It was only former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion Ngannou’s second-ever professional boxing bout, and he was thoroughly beaten by the 34-year-old Joshua, who
delivered the most powerful statement to the heavyweight boxing division.
Joshua knocked Ngannou down in the first round and early in the second.
A dazed Ngannou rose to his feet each time but was dazed by an explosive right hand moments after the second knockdown as the referee ended the one-sided fight.
The 37-year-old Ngannou appeared to have lost consciousness before he even hit the canvas and required medical treatment.
“I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again,” Joshua said, as World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who had beaten Ngannou controversially last year, watched on from ringside.
Unbeaten Fury had a tough time with Ngannou in October when he was knocked down by the then debutant before being declared winner on points, a decision disputed by many.
