‘Holy s***’: Anthony Joshua knocks Francis Ngannou out with hellacious punch

Anthony Joshua just delivered a knockout of the year contender after brutally turning the lights out on former UFC champ Francis Ngannou.

Anthony Joshua landed a murderous KO finish. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Francis Ngannou shocked the world when he made his boxing debut, on Saturday it was Anthony Joshua’s turn.

The former UFC heavyweight champ stepped into the ring against Joshua in a bout that had boxing fans the world over locked in.

You can watch the brutal knockout in the video above

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While many had hoped to see the Cameroonian deliver a stunning display following his fight against Tyson Fury, it was Joshua who stole the show in the blink of an eye.

After a feeling out period in the opening round, the former unified heavyweight champ put Ngannou on the canvas with a thunderous right hand.

Joshua lined up and stepped into the shot that landed flush on the face of Ngannou and sent him crashing onto his backside.

The onslaught continued into the second round when Joshua floored his rival before he unleashed a punch from hell to knock him out cold.

After Ngannou got back to his feet and the fight got back underway, Joshua wasted no time as he delivered a monstrous right hand that crumpled Ngannou over like a piece of paper.

“Ngannou’s out cold ladies and gentlemen. He’s not even moving,” one commentator said.

“Stunning power from Anthony Joshua. He came here to do a job. He clocked in and clocked out.

“What a performance from AJ. That was spiteful, that was hurtful.”

Ngannou was out like a light. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

The boxing world couldn’t believe what it had just watched unfold as Joshua put boxing on notice with the finish.

Journalist Ariel Helwani wrote: “Holy shit. AJ just KO’d Ngannou out cold in the 2nd. It’s over. Wow.”

Boxing journalist Dan Rafael wrote: “Joshua absolutely erases Ngannou with a right hand in rd 2! Massive KO! Dropped him earlier in the round also. SAVAGE KO of the year.”

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons wrote: “Damn, Anthony Joshua with one of the most vicious heavyweight knockouts I’ve ever seen. That was an all timer.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn labelled it “one of the most destructive knockouts I’ve ever seen”.

AJ is back. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Joshua heaped praise on Ngannou after the fight and urged the former UFC champ to not give up on boxing.

“It is what it is,” Joshua says.

“He’s a great champion. This doesn’t take away anything from his capabilities… he can come again.

“I told him he shouldn’t leave boxing. He can do well. He’s two fights in and he’s fought the best. He can go a long way if he stays dedicated.”

Now Joshua will eagerly await the fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk with the British star keen to take on the winner.

Absolutely loving this moment between @anthonyjoshua, @Francis_ngannou and @Turki_alalshikh ❤️️#JoshuaNgannou, live now worldwide on DAZN. Buy 𝗡𝗢𝗪 at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv#KnockoutChaos | #RiyadhSeasonpic.twitter.com/kVqORMyUym

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 9, 2024

FIGHT CARD RESULTS

Anthony Joshua def. Francis Ngannou via KO

Joseph Parker def. Zhilei Zhang for the interim WBO heavyweight title

Rey Vargas def. Nick Ball for the WBC featherweight title

Israil Madrimov def. Magomed Kurbanov for the WBA super welterweight title

Mark Chamberlain def. Gavin Gwynne — lightweights

Justis Huni def. Kevin Lerena (UD 10) — heavyweights

Louis Greene def. Jack McGann (TKO 1/10) — super welterweights

Roman Fury def. Martin Svarc (PTS 6) — cruiserweights

Ziyad Almaayouf def. Christian Lopez Flores (PTS 6) — super lightweights

Andrii Novytskyi def. Juan Torres (KO 3/8) — heavyweights

Originally published as ‘Holy s***’: Anthony Joshua knocks Francis Ngannou out with hellacious punch