Anthony Joshua stops Carlos Takam to defend WBA and IBF heavyweight titles in controversial stoppage

Joshua endured a frustrating night in Cardiff before finally stopping a valiant Takam in the tenth round of their heavyweight title fight

Anthony Joshua was unexpectedly taken to the tenth round before stopping Carlos Takam and retaining his WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles on Saturday night, in front of a world record indoor fight crowd of an estimated 76,000 under the roof at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The referee, Phil Edwards, stopped the fight after Joshua caught Takam with a hook-uppercut combination and was moving in to land more blows.

The France-based Cameroonian, who was fighting at 12 days' notice as an injury replacement for Kubrat Pulev, was left bitterly disappointed by the decision, which was loudly booed by the Welsh fans. But in reality it was a fair stoppage, with Takam bloodied and sustaining heavy damage.

“Takam, it was a pleasure. I come to fight, I don't sit on the edge and make decisions,” Joshua commented after the contest, as the crowd continued to jeer the decision. “It was a good fight until the ref stopped it, so I have the utmost respect for Takam.

“I have no interest in what is going on with the officials, that's not my job. I think people want to see Takam unconscious on the floor, and that's what I was trying to get to.”

It was a frustrating and uncomfortable evening for Joshua, who appeared to break his nose in the second round after an accidental clash of heads with Takam.

But he quickly regained his composure and confidently smiled at his opponent at the end of the third, as he began to show greater aggression after a considered, patient start.

Joshua was made to work hard by the little known Takam (Getty)

He forced a standing count in the fourth when he landed a vicious combination topped with a clubbing left-hook, with the punch opening up a deep cut above Takam’s left eye, which poured with blood and left him struggling to see.

Edwards asked the ringside doctor to examine the cut twice before the stoppage, although Takam continued to fight valiantly and twice weathered destructive flurries from Joshua in the sixth and seventh rounds.

The end eventually came in the tenth, with Takam left reeling after a huge right from Joshua and Edwards deciding that the challenger was in no fit state to continue.

The 28-year-old extended his professional record to 20-0 (Getty)

“I don't know why the referee stopped the match,” said Takam in the ring after his defeat. “I respect the champion and the UK fans, they are great fans and I am happy to box here. But I don't why they stopped it.

“I want a rematch, I make my preparations with 12 days to fight Anthony. I want a rematch, I want to box him again, I want him, he is a great champion.”

But Joshua said that he will now turn his attention towards the American WBC title-holder Deontay Wilder, with his promoter Eddie Hearn insisting that the fight “has to happen” — and that it will likely take place in the UK.

Takam was disappointed with the tenth round stoppage (Getty)

“AJ's told me he wants the belts,” Hearn said. “Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua has to happen.

“There's also a great heavyweight called Tyson Fury. Anthony Joshua will give you the fights you want. Wilder, Fury, Joseph Parker - they're the 2018 fights.

“I don't think we should go abroad. But Anthony Joshua will fight anyone.”