Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Boxing result, highlights and fight reaction after crushing knockout last night
Follow the latest reaction and news after Anthony Joshua’s thrilling display against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia
Anthony Joshua produced one of the finest performances of his career in a devastating knockout of Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, took a step closer to a blockbuster undisputed fight against Tyson Fury with a superior performance to his rival, who was made to work by the Cameroonian on his debut last October.
• Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk: Date, UK start time, undercard and how to watch fight
Joshua dropped the former UFC champion twice before a crushing third knockdown pinned Ngannou to the canvas in an emphatic stoppage. Afterwards Ngannou hailed Joshua’s knockout power.
The 34-year-old confirmed he is now in line to face the winner of Fury against Oleksandr Usyk, who beat ‘AJ’ twice previously. Follow the latest reaction and relive all the action from Knockout Chaos below:
Who will AJ fight next?
Dillian Whyte
Cleared to fight again after a contaminated supplement was attributed as the reason for last year’s failed doping test, which scuppered Whyte’s proposed rematch with Joshua last year.
A return against the veteran Christian Hammer next week in Ireland will enable him to shake off any rust before talk of resuming their bitter rivalry, which would allow AJ to remain active in 2024.
Who will AJ next face?
Oleksandr Usyk
Not likely, given Tyson Fury possesses a rematch clause should he lose to the Ukrainian in May, while two clear victories for Usyk against ‘AJ’ before removes some appeal for fans.
But Joshua’s improvement and better performance in the rematch keep the conversation alive. Should Fury be unavailable for a sustained period of time, perhaps due to injury, then a third fight with Joshua could appeal to Turki Alalshikh, rather than waiting until 2025 for another blockbuster heavyweight in Saudi Arabia with any of the top three heavyweights in the world.
Who will AJ next face?
Joseph Parker
Joshua outpointed Parker in 2018, handing him his first pro loss, and the New Zealander would soon lose to Dillian Whyte before suffering a TKO by Joe Joyce in 2022. However, Parker has excelled since that latest defeat, outpointing Deontay Wilder in December and Zhilei Zhang on Friday’s undercard. He even climbed off the canvas twice against Zhang to win. Parker is not the fighter he was in 2018, and a rematch with Joshua would be an interesting match-up.
Who will AJ next face?
Filip Hrgovic
Hrgovic has been mentioned as a potential opponent for Joshua for months. The Croat is the IBF mandatory challenger, and that status could affect the likelihood of Fury vs Usyk 2 being for all the major belts. In fact, the winner of Fury vs Usyk in May might choose to face Hrgovic next, but if they do not, he could go up against AJ. Hrgovic has never quite lived up to his potential but is unbeaten.
Who will AJ next face?
Tyson Fury
The fight that fans, especially in Britain, have longed to see for years. Fury suggested after AJ’s win that there is still “a long way to go”, with the “Gypsy King” first set to box Usyk for undisputed status in May. Then there is the prospect of Fury vs Usyk 2, which is believed to be contractually agreed. With the Saudis’ involvement in boxing, however, Joshua vs Fury looks as likely as it has in years, and AJ’s chances of winning are perhaps better than ever – given each man’s current form.
Anthony Joshua next fight: Who will AJ face?
Anthony Joshua dispatched Francis Ngannou with a devastating knockout in Saudi Arabia to boost his pursuit of becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion.
Joshua dispatched the Cameroonian quickly and looked superior to Tyson Fury in the process, with the WBC heavyweight champion taken to points by the former UFC heavyweight champion last October.
Joshua’s brutal power punching provides fresh momentum to his career with coach Ben Davison helping him to rediscover his ruthless streak.
But with Fury next fighting Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Joshua twice previously, in a bout to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion in May, Joshua’s future is uncertain.
Here, Independent Sport analyses Joshua’s options moving forward and what comes next after such a scintillating performance in Riyadh.
Anthony Joshua claims to be ‘heavyweight champion of the world’ after knocking out Francis Ngannou
Anthony Joshua claimed he should be the “WBC heavyweight champion of the world” after knocking out Francis Ngannou.
Joshua produced a timely reminder of his devastating punching power as he dropped the UFC champion twice in the second round before a crushing third knockdown in Saudi Arabia.
It positioned Joshua to take on the winner of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, who meet in an undisputed heavyweight title fight in May.
Last October, Ngannou made his boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Fury, knocking down the Briton before losing a hotly-disputed decision in Riyadh.
In a quirk of traditional boxing rules, Fury’s WBC title was not on the line. However, Joshua joked Ngannou held the title on merit and that he was now the WBC’s champion.
Anthony Joshua claims to be ‘heavyweight champion’ after Francis Ngannou knockout
Joshua positioned himself for a shot at the undisputed world heavyweight title - but believes he should already have the WBC belt
‘Told him not to leave’ – Joshua urges Ngannou not to quit boxing
For Joshua it is now four wins in a row as he put himself in prime position to meet the winner of the May 18 fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
“The Ben Davison performance centre, I appreciate them highly,” he said. “All of these guys that I worked with until this day. I’m just hungry. Stay hungry and all that good stuff.
“It only takes one shot in the heavyweight division. Joseph Parker is one of my favourite fighters, he had it tough and look at him now. I’m just doing it while I’m here and making the most of it. In five years I won’t be fighting.
“Eddie Hearn and my team will shape my future. I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again.
“The people of Cameroon, I appreciate you. Africa united, respect. Everyone here tonight, I appreciate you. Thank you to Francis Ngannou.”
‘Told him not to leave’ – Joshua urges Ngannou not to quit boxing
“On the road to the championship, you should always stay focused,” Joshua told broadcaster DAZN. “I thought this was something for the broadcasters to get behind.
“When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury, I thought I want some of that. (Ngannou) is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities. I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he fought the best.”
‘Told him not to leave’ – Joshua urges Ngannou not to quit boxing
Anthony Joshua urged Francis Ngannou not to quit boxing after he defeated the 37-year-old in just his second professional fight in Riyadh.
Joshua knocked the former UFC champion out in the second round leaving him requiring oxygen in the ring.
Ngannou, who performed well in losing narrowly on points to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in what had been his only previous fight, started brightly again in Riyadh, holding his own well for much of the first round.
He was put on the canvas by Joshua with about a minute to go in the round, and when he went down again in the second there appeared to be little chance of Ngannou continuing.
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