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Ngannou on the ground: “I told him not to give up boxing”
Photo:
Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Former boxing world champion Anthony Joshua had no problems against former MMA star Francis Ngannou.
The 34-year-old Brit won the supposed spectacle in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night by knockout in the second round.
Joshua had brought the Cameroonian to the ground with a hard right in the first round, and then in the second round he gave the 37-year-old no chance.
»I told him not to give up boxing.
He has two fights behind him and he fought against the best," said 34-year-old Joshua, who, according to media reports, received $50 million (46 million euros) for the fight and celebrated his 28th victory in his 31st fight.
“You see the world number one in the heavyweight division”
After his career was stalled by losses to Ukrainian WBA, WBO and IBF champion Alexander Usyk, Joshua wants to get back among the top contenders for a heavyweight world championship fight.
The clear success sparked speculation about a megafight against either Usyk or Tyson Fury, who duel in Saudi Arabia in May.
"You see the world's number one heavyweight," said Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn immediately: "In this form there is no man who can beat him.
“Tyson Fury, please beat Usyk because you will have the biggest fight in the history of the sport.”
It was only Ngannou's second professional boxing competition.
Last October, the ex-UFC champion surprisingly sent WBC world champion Fury (35) to the ground and brought him to the brink of defeat.
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