The former two-time world champion, Anthony Joshua, demolished the ex-MMA star, Francis Ngannou, by knockout in the second round with a right hand punch.
Cameroonian fighter Ngannou pushed to the canvas after the destructive final punch from 34-year-old Joshua, as the crowd in Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena erupted.
Dazed and hurt, Ngannou managed to recover and exchanged words with Joshua, as the victor urged him “not to leave” boxing despite his huge defeat.
Joshua praised his opponent on his October bout with Tyson Fury – a clash which the Cameroonian narrowly lost – saying: “When I saw the fight with Fury, I thought damn, this guy could fight, I wanted a piece of that.”
The British boxer added Ngannou was an “inspiration [and] a great champion” and the loss “shouldn’t take away from his capabilities”.
“He can come again. I told him he shouldn’t leave boxing. He’s two fights in, and he’s fought the best,” Joshua said.
Joshua’s words of comfort came after a persistent number of rounds, where he floored Ngannou twice before flattening him out cold with an unblocked right hand.
Ngannou began the fight well with a few early hits but was shaken by the might of the Joshua whose boxing career keeps soaring.
Joshua won his last three fights before accepting the meeting with Ngannou, whose talent and name recognition turned it into a big-money matchup.
Speaking to Sky Sports agency afterwards, Joshua said the victory was “not that satisfying” and that it was “onto the next” fight.
“The heavyweight division is one of the toughest in the world. It is what it is. People can question me, I do my best every time but I’m not even buzzing about the win. Onto the next… let’s go.”
Next on the cards for Joshua may be the winner of the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk bout which takes place at the same venue on 18 May, as he confidently said: “If they want me, they can come knocking at my door. If they do knock on the door, I say let’s go.
Eddie Hearn, who promoted Joshua since his professional debut in 2013, stood beside the winner before saying proudly: “You are looking at the baddest man on the planet. The number one heavyweight in the world.
“There’s a brilliant fighter down there in Tyson Fury. Please beat Oleksandr Usyk, because you will get the biggest fight of all time.”
Among the star-studded guests at the event was former Chelsea and Roma boss Jose Mourinho who fist pumped Joshua after his victory by the ringside.
