On Saturday morning, March 9, Anthony Joshua destroyed Francis Ngannou, a crossover mixed martial arts star making just his second trip to a boxing ring, with a second-round knockout. It was a very nasty knockout.
When Ngannou upset WBC champion Tyson Fury in his boxing debut in October of last year, it stunned the world and earned him a $20 million payday when Joseph Parker defeated Deontay Wilder in December.
Ngannou made a good start, connecting his long left hook, but Joshua’s decision to go southpaw may have been a sign of overconfidence since at the conclusion of the first round, Ngannou was sent sprawling to the mat by Joshua’s enormous right hand. Ngannou got up before the referee could count to 10.
Joshua put an immediate stop to the match in the second round by body- and head-jibbing Ngannou before landing a backhand blow. The former heavyweight champion of the UFC awoke drowsily, only to be mercilessly dispatched by a single, right hand, leaving him shaking and unable to stand.
Joshua is now prepared to take on the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk in May after the knockout.
