OVER AND OUT: Francis Ngannou is out and about after being knocked down for the third time by Anthony Joshua. Photo: Andrew Couldridge / Reuters / NTB
British Anthony Joshua (34) made short work of the Cameroonian MMA fighter Francis Ngannou (37) in the boxing ring.
Saturday 9 March at 11:33
The short version
- British Anthony Joshua (34) defeated Cameroonian MMA fighter Francis Ngannou (37) in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia
- Joshua knocked Ngannou down three times
- Joshua will probably meet the winner of Fury vs. Usyk – they meet in May
Sea view
Ngannou made a huge impression when he knocked out Tyson Fury in his boxing debut last October. Although it ultimately ended in a points loss, the former UFC heavyweight champion got another big fight in the boxing ring to prove he belongs at the top of the world.
But Joshua brutally ensured that Ngannou is now definitely aware that boxing is a different sport than MMA. At a convention in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the two went head-to-head and the heavyweight duel was stipulated to ten rounds.
Already in the first round, Ngannou had to take a count after being sent to the canvas with a violent right from Joshua.
DEMONSTRATION OF POWER: Anthony Joshua (th) met Francis Ngannou in the boxing ring on Saturday night. Photo: Andrew Couldridge / Reuters / NTB
Towards the end of the second round, Ngannou had to go down to the canvas for the second time. He did get back up, but almost immediately Joshua ended the night for the Cameroonian with a violent right punch that “turned the lights out” immediately.
The ring referee stopped the fight, and Ngannou lay flat while Joshua could celebrate what was a confirmation that the Briton is still to be reckoned with among the boxing heavyweights.
On 18 May this year, Fury and Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk will meet in what will be a battle for all the major WC heavyweight boxing belts. The winner of that fight must expect Joshua to be the next obstacle.
IN PLACE: Tyson Fury (th) was present in Riyadh – here together with Joseph Parker. Photo: Andrew Couldridge / Reuters / NTB
Fury also sat ringside and applauded when Joshua brutally ended the night for Ngannou. Earlier in the evening, Joseph Parker from New Zealand won on points against the Chinese Zhilei Zhang – despite having to count twice.
Parker is thus a very dangerous challenger in heavyweight boxing – he also beat American Deontay Wilder in December.
Ngannou was the heavyweight champion of the largest MMA organization UFC in 2021 and 2022. Joshua took Olympic gold in boxing at the London Olympics in 2012, and has held several World Championship titles in professional heavyweight boxing. He lost twice to Usyk – in 2021 and 2022.
Correction
It said in the first edition that the London Olympics were in 2014, the correct one is 2012.