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In a thrilling main event dubbed 'Knockout Chaos' in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua showcased his dominance, flooring MMA star Francis Ngannou twice before delivering a savage knockout blow that left his opponent needing oxygen.
Despite initial speculation that the fight would be too close to call, given Ngannou's impressive debut against world champion Tyson Fury, Joshua proved himself once again as he looked back to his best in the ring.
With this victory, Joshua has likely paved his way to a world title bout against the winner of Tyson Fury's undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk this spring, positioning himself for a shot at becoming a three-time world champion.
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16:37 - 09.03.2024
BOXING Anthony Joshua's message to Francis Ngannou after losing second professional bout
Anthony Joshua has empathised with Francis Ngannou who once again lost a bout in his just but second professional boxing event.
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15:48 - 09.03.2024
Don't leave boxing - Anthony Joshua advises Francis Ngannou after pummeling Cameroonian star
Anthony Joshua produced a statement win, needing just two rounds to defeat Francis Ngannou
AJ's social media post
AJ's social media presence was as impactful as his performance in the ring. Celebrating his victory with his massive following, he shared a video of the knockout punch on his X account.
The post was captioned: 'Predator to prey,' with 'predator' crossed out, taking a direct jab at Ngannou's nickname.
However, Joshua also showed respect for his opponent, sharing a selfie of the two with the caption: 'Respect my guy (handshake emoji). African giants (world emoji).'
Joshua's Post-Fight Reflection
Throughout fight week, Joshua maintained a focused demeanour, exuding confidence in his victory. Post-fight, he praised Ngannou's abilities and urged him to remain in the sport. However, Joshua's post-event monologue took a peculiar turn as he addressed the crowd inside the ring.
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He said, "It is what it is. What I was saying, en route to the championship, you should stay focused. I stepped aside from the mission, I thought it was for the broadcasters for entertainment.
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“But I saw him against Fury and thought, 'damn, he can fight'. We welcomed him, he's a great champion. It doesn't take away from his capability. He can come again, I told him he can stay in boxing. It's up to him.
“The Ben Davison performance centre [is the reason for my improvement]. I'm hungry, stay hungry and all that good stuff. I don't know [if I'm coming into my peak], it only takes one shot, if that was me, you'd be saying, 'Joshua should retire'."
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