Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou winner: Joshua knocks out Ngannou

Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in devastating fashion in the second round for a stirring victory in Friday’s heavyweight bout in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua, the British star, knocked down Ngannou in the first round, knocked him down again in the second round and then delivered the knockout punch at 2:38 of the second round.

The knockout blow, a powerful right hand, left Ngannou out cold. Ngannou, the former UFC champion, was down on the canvas for more than a minute and received oxygen, according to the DAZN broadcast.

The victory was the fourth straight for Joshua (28-3) after his back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine.

“For me, I don’t know if I’m coming into my peak,’’ he said. “I’m just pushing day by day.’’

It was a stunning setback for Ngannou, who knocked down Tyson Fury during his pro debut in October and looked impressive in a split-decision loss. But Joshua, the two-time world champion, was in control from the outset Friday.

Joshua, 34, said he was captivated by Ngannou’s bout with Fury.

Recalled Joshua, “When I saw the fight with him and Fury, I was like, ‘Damn, this guy can fight.’ So I said, ‘I need a piece of that.’ “

But after the fight started Friday, Ngannou, the 37-year-old native of Cameroon, spent almost as much time on the canvas as he did on his feet.

“He’s a great champion,’’ Joshua said of Ngannou (0-2) after scoring the 25th knockout of his career. “And this doesn’t take away anything from his capabilities. …He can come back.’’

Round 1: Ngannou opens with a nice left hook. Fighters measuring the situation. Ngannou looks composed. Big right, mostly blocked by Joshua. … Joshua drops Ngannou with a powerful right! Ngannou back on his feet and beats the eight count. Joshua looks ready to pounce, but time runs out. Joshua 10, Ngannou 8.

Round 2: Ngannou not backing away, but looks a little more tentative. Understandably. Joshua lands hard right. Ngannou throw jabs but nothing connecting. Joshua drops Ngannou again! Another big right! Ngannou back on his feet. And down goes Ngannou again! And he’s down for good!

FIGHT’S OVER!

Anthony Joshua wins with a second-round KO.

About 10 minutes after Anthony Joshua’s postfight press conference began, he had company.

In walked Francis Ngannou, the man Joshua had flattened with a devastating knockout punch in the second round of their heavyweight bout Friday.

The two shook hands and later posed for a photo that was posted on Joshua’s verified account on X, formerly Twitter.

Asked by a reporter how special Joshua was, Ngannou replied, “Well, he was quite special because he stopped me. He did what Tyson Fury couldn’t. It wasn’t my day and he was just way better than me today.’’

Click the links to jump to the recap for each fight.

Main card

Anthony Joshua def. Francis Ngannou, 10 rounds, heavyweight
Joseph Parker def. Zhilei Zhang, 12 rounds, heavyweight – Zhang’s interim WBO heavyweight title
Nick Ball vs. Rey Vargas split draw, 12 rounds, featherweight – Vargas’ WBC featherweight title
Israil Madrimov def. Magomed Kurbanov, 12 rounds, super welterweight – vacant WBA title
Mark Chamberlain def. Gavin Gwynne, 12 rounds, lightweight
Justis Huni def. Kevin Lerena, 10 rounds, heavyweight

Preliminary card

Parker got knocked down twice but still beat Big Bang Zhang in the 12-round bout by majority decision and won the interim heavyweight title.

Zhang showed impressive power, but Parker remained the active fighter. In fact, according to the DAZN broadcast, Zhang did not land a single punch in the 12th round.

The judges scored the fight 113-113, 114-112, 115-111.

“Mr. Zhang is a tough man,’’ said Parker, who was knocked down in the third round and the seventh round.

Parker, a former world champion from New Zealand, improved to 35-3. China’s Zhang dropped 26-2-1. Here’s a round-by-round recap:

Round 1: Big Bang Zhang, 6-foot-6 and 256 pounds, towering over Parker, who’s listed as 6-4 but suddenly looks much smaller. Tactical here, as fighters gauging each other and range. Forgettable round, Zhang slightly more aggressive. Zhang 10, Parker 9.

Round 2: Zhang unleashes a left but misses. Crowd waiting on action. And waiting. Parker lands a right to Zhang’s chest. Zhang connects, and back comes Parker with a left. Zhang 19, Parker 19.

Round 3: Zhang fires a couple jabs with more authority – but nothing landing. Presses the action a little and lands a jab. Zhang lands a left and down goes Parker! Zhang pressing the action and firing more lefts. Lands a barrage of punches before bell rings. Zhang 29, Parker 27.

Round 4: Parker bleeding from the nose as the round begins. Parker lands a right, but Zhang looks in control. Wow, Parker lands a combo. Parker firing. Staggers Zhang with a right and staying active. Zhang 38, Parker 37.

Round 5: No sign of fireworks as boxers grow measured again. Parker lands a couple of body punches. Zhang showing no urgency, and Parker remains the aggressor while landing late. Zhang 47, Parker 47.

Round 6: First minute the equivalent to watching paint dry. But Parker finally fires and hard to know what Zhang is blocking and what is getting through – but at least he’s throwing. Is Zhang already out of gas? Parker 57, Zhang 56.

Round 7: Welcome back to the fight Mr. Zhang, who throws a few punches. The third-round knockdown of Parker seems ages ago. Zhang connects again. But Parker remains the more active fighter. Parker 67, Zhang 65.

Round 8: Parker stings Zhang with a hard right. Then connects with a looping left. Zhang still lacking urgency. Then lands a left and Parker drops to his knee! Second knockdown of the right. Parker easily beats the eight-count and action resumes. Zhang 77, Parker 75.

Round 9: Fighters just circling. Zhang not trying to capitalize on that knockdown but does lands a stiff jab that knocks Parker’s head back. Round up for grabs. Parker firing. And again. Many blocked, but now strikes Zhang in the side of the face. Zhang 86, Parker 85.

Round 10: Parker comes out firing. Zhang seems content to wait for an opening rather than creating one. Parker stepping forward with combos – most absorbed by Zhang’s massive arms. Parker showing plenty of energy. Parker 95, Zhang 95.

Round 11: Zhang coming forward. Sensing time is running out on him? Parker exposing self with right hands. Zhang can’t take advantage. Parker 105, Zhang 104.

Round 12: Zhang’s corner seems to know their man needs a knockout. Not sure what Zhang is waiting for. It’s Parker who’s throwing a steady diet of punches. Parker somehow managed to stay aggressive and avoid another Zhang knockdown punch. Parker 115, Zhang 113.

Rey Vargas survived two knockdowns and retained his WBC featherweight title in a split draw with Nick Ball.

Ball, a 5-foot-2 Brit, was the aggressor through the 12-round bout. But Vargas, the 5-10 Mexican punished Ball with his left jab.

The judges scored the fight 114-112 for Vargas, 116-110 for Ball and 113-113.

“I was the aggressor in the fight, so I thought I’d done enough to win it,’’ Ball.

Vargas, who improved to 37-1, said he’ll give Ball a rematch. Ball suffered his first defeat, fall to 19-1. See a round-by-round recap below.

Round 1: A striking contrast with the 5-foot-2 Ball and 5-10 Vargas circling at the center of the ring. The diminutive Ball not backing down. But Vargas lands more punches. Vargas 10, Ball 9.

Round 2: Ball trying to get inside but running right into Vargas jabs. But Ball finally connecting. Maybe even steals the round? Vargas 19, Ball 19.

Round 3: The rough-and-tumble Ball sends Vargas flying to the canvas with…an MMA move? No point deduction, but doubtful the judges are impressed. Vargas does most of the scoring. Vargas 29, Ball 28.

Round 4: Ball rushing at Vargas, determined to negate Vargas’ reach advantage, then slips through the ropes. Almost out of control. Vargas delivering that jab again and again. Vargas 39, Ball 37.

Round 5: Ball is a bulldog and looks like he could do damage inside. But Vargas still mostly fending off his challenger with the jab. Vargas 49, Ball 46.

Round 6: Ball wrestles Vargas to the canvas. But Vargas sticking with his game plan – capitalize on his reach advantage. You can give Ball credit for scrappiness, but can’t give him the round. Vargas 59, Ball 55.

Round 7: Ball lands a solid right, and now Vargas backing away. Ball lands another right hand and Vargas looks shaken. An energized Ball rocks Vargas with another right hand! Vargas 68, Ball 55.

Round 8: Vargas looks back in command – well, for the moment anyway. Ball pushes Vargas to the canvas again. Ball scores a knockdown at the end of the round! Vargas 76, Ball 75.

Round 9: The knockdown doesn’t seem to have affected Vargas. But Ball remains relentlessly aggressive. Putting lots of pressure of Vargas, who responds with a big right hand. Vargas 86, Ball 84.

Round 10: Vargas connects with a body shot and Ball backs up. But not for long. Ball, stalking and lunging, seems to be wearing down Vargas. Vargas 95, Ball 94.

Round 11: Ball chasing Vargas, clearly looking for a KO blow. Vargas responds with those long-armed punches. But ball still dictating the action. Another knockdown for Ball late in the round! Vargas makes the eight-count. Ball 104, Vargas 103.

Round 12: Ball still stalking, and that aggression may earn him what he needs. Vargas just looks spent. And Ball is the energizer bunny – er, bull. And Ball lands a solid left hand to finish things off. Ball 114, Vargas 112.

Legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao accompanied Rey Vargas of Mexico on his ring walk. Vargas, the WBC world featherweight champion is putting his belt on the line against Nick Ball of England in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds.

Madrimov won the WBA super welterweight title when he stopped Kurbanov by TKO in the fifth round.

When the referee stopped the fight, the 25-year-old Uzbekistan boxer celebrated in the ring with a cartwheel followed by a backflip.

“Great feeling,’’ Madrimov said while holding the championship belt in the ring. “…This belt coming to Uzbekistan.’’

Madrimov improved to 10-0-1. Kurbanov, a 28-year-old from Russia, suffered his first loss and fell to 25-1.

The WBO heavyweight championship belt, which now belongs to Zhilei Zhang, will be on the line when China’s Zhang fights Joseph in a heavyweight bout scheduled for 12 rounds. May the fighters look half as polished as the WBO heavyweight championship belt.

His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the leading power broker in Saudi boxing, got a special welcome between fights. Wearing signature shades, he tapped his chest with a fist in acknowledgment of cheers.

Then the Saudi Arabian national anthem was played and the boxing resumed.

Chamberlain stopped Gwynne by TKO in the fourth round of the lightweight bout.

A southpaw, Chamberlain battered Gwynne from the outset and left his opponent’s right eye badly swollen after the first round. The injury worsened and the referee waved off the fight at 2:46 of the fourth round.

“I wanted to make a statement out here,’’ Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain, a 24-year-old from England, improved to 16-0. Gwynne, a 33-year-old from Wales, dropped to 17-3.

Huni survived a final-round barrage to beat Lerena by unanimous decision in the 10-round heavyweight fight.

But Lerena, from South Africa, bloodied in the sixth round, delivered an electrifying effort in the final round. Twice he rocked Huni, who wobbled but stayed on his feet and pulled out the victory.

The judges scored the fight 96-94, 96-94 and 98-92.

The Australian Huni, 24, improved to 9-0 and Lerena, 31, fell to 30-3.

Lerena’s mother died earlier this week.

“Emotionally it was tough,’’ he said. “But you can’t take anything away from this young man. …

“I had him hurt. I should have finished him. But kudos to him, he stayed up like a tough lion, a young lion.’’

Huni cited his training when asked about withstanding Lerena’s powerful shots in the 10th round.

“I’m glad my legs are strong enough to stick it out.

Fury, who got knocked down by Ngannou in October before pulling out a victory by split decision, offered his thoughts on the matchup between Joshua and Ngannou.

“I think if Joshua uses his jab, moves his feet, he wins comfortably,’’ Fury said during an interview on the DAZN broadcast. “But if he gets involved, he could get attacked like I did.

“I should’ve probably used me jab and danced around him…But I tried to jump in with big power shots and, bang-bang. I was having a lot of success early with the one-two, and he was taking them, to his credit.’’

Fury said he got greedy, leading to Ngannou scoring a knockdown in the third round of his pro boxing debut.

“With his limited boxing experienced, he doesn’t really have the ability to,’’ Fury said of Ngannou. “After he’s landed and hurt someone, he doesn’t have the ability to set more shots up on an elite level boxer to get him out of there.

“But, hey, Anthony Joshua’s not as elusive as I am. Even on me worst not, he’s not as elusive as I am.”

There’s little mystery as to why Joshua and Ngannou will be fighting in Saudi Arabia instead of Las Vegas.

Follow the money.

Ngannou passed on a three-fight, $8 million contract with the UFC. Then he reportedly made at least $10 million for his pro debut against Tyson Fury, according to Fury, and is set for another hefty payday for his fight against Joshua.

The Saudis are particularly enchanted with the top-ranked heavyweights.

Fox Sports Australia reported Joshua and Ngannou will be paid more than $70 million combined.

“It will soon be the fight capital of the world,’’ veteran boxing promoter Frank Warren told the London Times.

The main event may be scheduled for early evening Friday in the U.S., but it will be the wee hours of the morning local time. Riyadh is eight hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (GMT+3), meaning it was 7 p.m. when the preliminary fights began and will be approximately 1:50 a.m. Saturday when the main event gets underway.

Joshua is favored to defeat Ngannou, according to the BetMGM odds.

Win Outright: Joshua (-450); Ngannou (+320)
Win by KO/TKO: Joshua (-190); Ngannou (+380)
Win by points or Decision: Joshua (+400); Ngannou (+2,200)

Roman Fury, younger brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, improved to 4-0 with a victory by decision over Martin Svarc (2-2) of the Czech Republic in a four-round heavyweight bout.

Fury, 27, made his pro boxing debut in 2022.

Christian Lopez Flores of Mexico lost his 16th straight bout, with the latest defeat coming to Ziyad Almaayouf in a super lightweight bout.

But Flores (14-36-2) has significant work ahead to make history. Precisely, he will need 35 more consecutive losses to match the 51-fight losing streak stitched together by Robin Deakin of England between 2007 and 2015. Deakin, who fought in the super lightweight division, finished his career with a record of 2-53.

Almaayouf, who was born in Saudi Arabia but lives in Los Angeles, improved to 5-0 with a victory by unanimous decision over Christian Lopez Flores in a six-round super lightweight fight.

In a matchup with two Brits, Greene stopped McGann with a first-round TKO. Greene improved to 17-4 and McGann, a former MMA fighter, fell to 9-1-1.

Novytskyi won via third-round KO.

Many fans are eager to make a profit by predicting the winner of the contest, including Canadian rapper Drake, who is notorious for placing large sums of money on sports bets. In this particular instance, Drake wagered an astonishing $615,000 on newcomer Ngannou to triumph over Joshua.

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou winner: Joshua knocks out Ngannou

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou winner: Joshua knocks out Ngannou

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