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:
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While we wait for the next bout, why not read our profile on Francis Ngannou?
When his heartbreaking, tear-jerking, awe-inspiring, miraculous life is imagined as a motion picture – and it will be – Hollywood’s chosen scribes will trade sheepish glances in the writers’ room. Forget any fantasy film they have worked on, any cheesy sporting drama, any puffed-up biopic; they will ask themselves how to tone down Ngannou’s story, how to make it more believable, how to avoid raised eyebrows, rolling pupils and dismissive scoffs in cinemas.
That is because even the most creative, unhinged or audacious scriptwriter would not dare to conjure a narrative with the kind of backstory, plot twists and three-act structure that define Ngannou’s career.
The Cameroonian’s first act would take place in his country of birth, where at just 10 years old he was leaking streaks of sweat and drops of blood in a sand quarry in Batie. This start in life combined physical labour with a need to provide, a situation not fit for any child. That is to say nothing of the more relatable life-shaping events affecting a young Ngannou: his parents’ divorce when the future fighter was just six, a struggle to gain a formal education.
Yet even with that lack of education, Ngannou exhibited a precocious wisdom – one that explains so much of his impossible success. Approached by numerous gangs in Batie, Ngannou remained resolute, turning away their advances and already recognising the error in his father’s street-fighting ways. Perhaps hand-to-hand combat was in Ngannou’s blood, but he would not waste any innate pugilism on the impoverished streets of a village in Africa – sold-out arenas were to come, whether he knew it yet or not.
Full preview:
Real-life Rocky? Francis Ngannou’s story is beyond any Hollywood script
He worked in a sand quarry at the age of 10, lived homeless on the streets of Paris, then won UFC gold and is now boxing the heavyweights of his generation. Ngannou’s life and career are destined to be displayed on the big screen, writes Alex Pattle
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It’s a messy first round with both men looking to work on the inside.
Chamberlain comes in with a great uppercut from range and the Welshman has a cut already.
This is a ferocious pace and a cracking opener, impressive output from both fighters.
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Ben Davison reveals key to AJ relationship
Ben Davison: “He's an Olympic gold medallist and two-time champion of the world, all we've done, we've helped him understand what he's got in a phenomenal tool bag.
“They [Joshua and Fury] are two different personalities. AJ is a true professional, we've prepared properly. You have a look [at UFC fights] and if some correlate to boxing.
“There is a lot of time in the MMA fights that isn't relevant, we've treated him with respect.”
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Gavin Gwynne vs Mark Chamberlain up next
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena
Justis Huni def. Kevin Lerena via unanimous decision (96-94, 96-94, 98-92)
Lerena applauds Huni. It’s the right result, but Lerena came so close to getting a finish, more than once.
Just days after the death of his mother, Lerena does himself so proud.
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena
Round 10
Final round! Both men land jabs at the same time. Nice counter hook from Huni.
Huni marches forward. Lerena leans back to evade a left hand. Decent right hook from the South African.
Quickfire flurry from Huni. OH! A perfect left hook by Lerena, and Huni is wobbling all over the place!!!
Lerena with a right cross, he's going for the finish! Huni is hanging on! Lerena is trying to pick his shots, but he has to unload! One minute to go!
Lerena holds on, no!! But the men separate, and Lerena scores with a hard shot – and another! An uppercut gets through now!
Huni somehow manages to taunt Lerena, who looks exhausted. What an end to this fight.
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena
Round six
Lerena just about curls a left hook around Huni’s guard. Huni with a series of shots that are largely blocked.
A jab lands for Huni, who starts to add some right crosses now. Left hook to the body of Lerena.
Lerena skims a right hook off the top of the younger fighter’s head.
There’s a patch of blood on Huni's forehand, in fact. Lerena wings a left hook into his midriff.
Lerena’s nose is sporting a bit of blood.
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena
Round four
Lerena corners Huni but is clipped with a lead left hook from the southpaw. Nice jab by Lerena now.
Hard, long left hook to the body of Huni, who retaliates by testing Lerena’s guard with a left hook of his own – this one upstairs.
Lerena, generally, looks to be slowing down a bit. He’s still trying to maintain his activity, mind you. A couple of well-timed jabs connect for him.
Huni sees an overhand right blocked, but he seems to land a follow-up left hook. The area around Lerena’s right eye is just swelling a bit.
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Justis Huni vs Kevin Lerena
Round one
Ten rounds scheduled. Huni stands orthodox, Lerena is southpaw.
Nice uppercut from Huni early, but he’s tagged hard by a left hook as he tries to circle away.
Huni tries a few crosses, but Lerena’s guard withstands them. It also holds up against a pair of hooks.
Hard cross by Lerena, then a one-two, then another left straight! Counter left hook by the South African now. Good spell for him.
Wild right hand misses for Huni. Lots of activity from both men. Lerena leans on the Aussie against the ropes before the bell.
Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Main card imminent
With the first main-card fight coming up shortly, here’s our preview of the co-main event...
Could Zhilei Zhang vs Joseph Parker be the fight of the night? There’s a chance it even outshines Joshua vs Ngannou...
Full preview:
How ‘Big Bang’ Zhang can steal Joshua and Ngannou’s thunder
Moments before Joshua and Ngannou share the ring in Riyadh, Zhilei Zhang will defend his interim title against Joseph Parker
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