Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in the most brutal fashion on Saturday morning, March 9, obliterating the crossover MMA superstar on his second visit to a boxing ring with a second-round knockout.
Ngannou shocked the world when he floored undefeated WBC champion Tyson Fury on his boxing debut last October giving him the opportunity to face Joshua in a $20m Payday when Deontay Wilder was beaten by Joseph Parker in December.
Ngannou started promisingly, landing his long left hook but a switch to southpaw perhaps showed a touch of overconfidence and Joshua detonated a huge right hand to send him crashing to the canvas towards the end of round one. Before the referee could count to ten, Ngannou stood up.
In the second round, Joshua wasted no time in ending the show, hitting Ngannou with his backhand after jabbing to body and head. The former UFC heavyweight champion rose groggily, only to be brutally eliminated by a single, right hand that left him trembling and unable to get up.
The knockout leaves Joshua ready to face the winner between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in May.