a stunning statement
Anthony Joshua became the first man to nail Francis Ngannou to the canvas, dispatching the former UFC world champion inside a frantic two rounds in Riyadh with Tyson Fury watching on from ringside.
I say frantic, I’m sure that’s exactly how it felt for Ngannou. He may pose a threat, but he hardly had time to think on his feet before being knocked off of them by a violent and seemingly re-energised Joshua.
A lot of the fight week talk surrounded how Joshua would approach such an unorthodox night’s work. Granted, Ngannou is a ‘novice’, but such innocence can be a problem in itself.
I know, calling a fighter innocent when he can send your head into orbit is fairly unjust.
So, when the 270lb man hit the deck in the opening chapter, novice or not, the heavyweight division trembled.
A right hand split Ngannou’s guard like the Red Sea, and already he looked as if he was swimming amongst the greatest of sharks. Unfortunately for him, that shark was hungry.
Round two hardly went any smoother, as Joshua’s clubbing right hand left Ngannou seated for the second time. After 12 rounds in a professional boxing ring, he finally looked out of his depth.
He did rise, but only to be met by Joshua’s finisher. If you want to brand tonight as the boxing Street Fighter, then this was the Hadoken, and Ngannou was out cold.
A huge night and a huge statement from Joshua, yet he was unmoved.
He looked as if he had done something as simple as taking out the bins. In reality, what he actually did was take out the man his heavyweight rival could not.
Of course, styles make fights, and occasions do too. Ngannou was clearly better off as the mysterious outlier, whose punch statistics make for a frightening sales pitch.
Fury stepped into the unknown, whereas Joshua stepped into the ‘sort of’ known. Like boxing does - and should do - we will now compare those two nights until the British duo collide.
That seems the next logical step for Joshua, providing Fury is to deliver on his promise of beating the fighter he refers to as the ‘middleweight’.
That showdown is set for May, however factoring in recovery time and the potential of a rematch, Joshua vs Fury may well be a conversation for 2025.
Until then, Joshua holds a position that he hasn’t held since his early world title days.
This time there is no title, or label, just a heavyweight who exudes sheer confidence. One who strikes a fear that only few can match. Maybe he really is back.
And by back, I mean getting fighters gone. I hate the ‘old AJ’ narrative, because I consider the Joshua that turned up for Oleksandr Usyk the second time a very polished one.
However, there is just something about that fighter we saw before, and the one who has creeped back now, that entices any onlooker.
What a win, and what a night.
Oscar Bevis
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