Anthony Joshua produced a jaw-dropping second-round knockout of Francis Ngannou to put the world on notice that his desire to claim the world heavyweight crown is back within his destructive, muscular grasp.
What a statement from the former world champion. Joshua dominated the entire short dance, stunning and dropping Ngannou with a long right hand down the pipe in the opening stanza, with the Cameroonian former UFC heavyweight champion up at eight on the referee’s count.
Joshua was carefully circumventing the ring and as Ngannou switched to southpaw, looking notably to land with left and right hooks, and the Briton pounced with the most powerful of right hands.
As the second round played out, two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua looked in complete control, a hook over the top felling Ngannou, up again at eight, with a follow-up right hand knocking Ngannou clean out, before his foe had hit the ground.
