The highly-anticipated boxing match between former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on Friday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, didn’t produce as much action as expected. Joshua ended the fight with a second-round knock-out, recording his fourth straight win.
Ngannou entered the match on the back of a surprisingly good performance against WBC champion Tyson Fury back in October, which he lost in a split decision. However, the retired MMA fighter proved to be no match for Joshua.
Joshua was aggressive from the first bell, attacking Ngannou and sending him to the canvas in the first round. Several minutes into the second round, Ngannou was knocked down once again and seemed quite shaken.
Shortly after the second knockdown, Joshua delivered a powerful jab that knocked out Ngannou beyond the point of return.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua praised Ngannou and said that he belongs in the world of boxing.
“He’s an inspiration,” said Joshua. “He’s a great champion. This doesn’t take away anything of his capabilities because, in boxing, it’s one or the other. He can come again.”
Ngannou, on the other hand, went on X (former Twitter) to apologize to his fans.
Since losing two straight fights against Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua has bounced back with four consecutive wins, two of which came via KO. He now has his eyes set on recapturing the heavyweight championship belts he lost to Usyk, but he will have to wait his turn. Usyk is currently scheduled to face Fury in May in a fight that will likely produce an undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
