Joshua put out the lights for Ngannou with 2nd round knock out

In a spectacular showdown at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday, former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua demonstrated his prowess by knocking down Francis Ngannou three times in two rounds, securing a knockout victory and placing himself back in contention for another title shot.

The initial knockdown occurred in the opening round when Joshua, the British heavyweight, landed a straight right to Ngannou’s chin. The “Knockout Chaos” fight lived up to its name as Joshua delivered another set of powerful blows, causing Ngannou to hit the canvas in the second round. The referee intervened, declaring Joshua the winner by knockout while Ngannou received treatment and eventually rose to his feet.

Ngannou, who had previously knocked down WBC champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh in October, fell short in this bout, losing decisively to Joshua. Despite the disappointment, Joshua showed no mercy and addressed the crowd with a succinct “It is what it is.”

Tyson Fury, seated ringside, observed the match. Joshua expressed his eagerness for a future opportunity against the winner of the upcoming Usyk vs. Fury fight scheduled for May 18.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, also chimed in, urging Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk, envisioning a monumental showdown. He described Joshua’s knockout as one of the most destructive he had ever seen.

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Post-fight, Joshua acknowledged Ngannou’s potential, encouraging him not to leave boxing and emphasizing that he could go far with dedication.

On the undercard, New Zealand’s Joseph Parker claimed the WBO interim title with a majority points decision against Chinese heavyweight Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang, overcoming two knockdowns. Despite a draw on the judges’ scorecards, Parker expressed readiness for a rematch.

In another noteworthy bout, Britain’s Nick Ball and Mexico’s WBC featherweight champion Rey Vargas fought to a split-decision draw, with the challenger scoring two knockdowns despite not securing the title.