Anthony Joshua defeated Francis Ngannou in two rounds, knocking out the Cameroonian hero with a powerful right hand that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Ngannou was knocked down three times, all from right hands, before the fight was stopped at 2:38 of the second round.
Joshua, aiming to reclaim his spot in the heavyweight title picture, expressed his desire to face the winner of the upcoming unified heavyweight title clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
The fight began with Joshua looking composed and fluid, while Ngannou, known for his wide-armed defense, aggressively entered the fray. Joshua was caught circling to his left early in the fight and absorbed a heavy right hand on his glove with his left hand held high.
Despite Ngannou switching to a southpaw stance early on, Joshua capitalized on the opening and landed a long right hand, sending Ngannou to the canvas for the first time.
Although Ngannou managed to get back up, he appeared flustered. In the second round, Joshua continued to dominate, knocking Ngannou down once again with a right hand.
Ngannou got up but was visibly shaken. Joshua seized the moment and unleashed a massive overhand right, knocking Ngannou out cold.
The referee immediately waved off the fight as Ngannou lay flat on his back.
After the fight, Joshua urged Ngannou to continue his boxing career, but it was clear that Ngannou was still reeling from the devastating loss.
Joshua’s victory adds another dramatic knockout to his resume, solidifying his status as a top contender in the heavyweight division.
“He can come again,” Joshua said. “I told him he shouldn’t leave boxing. He can do well. He’s fought two of the best and he can go a long way if he stays dedicated. It’s up to him.”
Joshua has won four in a row since back-to-back defeats by Usyk, having overcome Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and now Ngannou.