Anthony Joshua defeats Carlos Takam at Principality Stadium in Cardiff

A “SHOCKING” call has ended Anthony Joshua’s title fight in controversy as fans go for the jugular at officials.

Anthony Joshua is in a world of pain.

• Controversy over ref’s decision
• Joshua’s suspected broken nose
• ‘A genuine horror show’
• Irish star makes history

World Heavyweight Title fight

Anthony Joshua has sucessfully defended his World Heavyweight Title with a win over Carlos Takam.

ANTHONY Joshua has brought up his 20th career win with a controversial victory over Carlos Takam.

The 28-year-old world champion copped a hefty headbutt to the nose, sending blood splattering over the canvas in the second round. Takam, nursing a savage cut above his eye early in the piece, fought back from the jaws of defeat and pressured Joshua until a savage combination from the champion forced the ref to step in and stop the fight in the 10th round.

9:13am

Anothony Joshua defeats Carlos Takam via TKO

Controversy

Anthony Joshua has defeated Carlos Takam to hold the World Heavyweight title.

The fight was stopped in the 10th round as referee Phil Edwards stepped in to hold the bloodied Takam away from Joshua’s onslaught.

Fans blasted the decision to end the fight early as Takam argued with Edwards’ decision.

What a terrible stoppage. #JoshuaTakam #boxing @ShowtimeBoxing

— caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) October 28, 2017

That was BULLSHIT. My man was ducking and weaving it's called BOXING. They didn't want anyone to go the distance with AJ. Fix. #JoshuaTakam

— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) October 28, 2017

Absolutely shocking.. how on earth can they stop that fight there??? 👀 #JoshuaTakam

— Daniel Osborne (@DannyO) October 28, 2017

Joshua thanked the Cardiff crowd and his opponent before addressing the controversial stoppage.

“I have no interest with what goes on with the officials, that’s not my job,” he said. “Unfortunately the ref stopped it because people wanted to see Takam unconcious on the floor.

“Takam, you were a pleasure.”

8:55am

‘Bloodbath’: Takam rushes back from jaws of defeat

Carlos Takam has stayed in the fight despite a gruesome cut above his eye spilling out blood. The veteran underdog was suspected to fold midway through the bout but has pulled out a number of energetic combinations to surprise Anthony Joshua going into the eighth round.

Joshua landed a series of blows on the 36-year-old to no avail as Takam withstood the beating.

The referee had a long chat to Takam before the ninth round as his head wounds continued to weep blood.

Joshua’s prediction of a 10th round stoppage for the fight might well be true.

#JoshuaTakam continues into an eighth round!
AJ clearly ahead on points but Takam showing tremendous courage.

— Seb Costello (@SebCostello9) October 28, 2017

This is a bloodbath #AnthonyJoshua #JoshuaTakam

— Toyin (@ToyinReports) October 28, 2017

8:30am

Joshua with suspected broken nose

Anthony Joshua’s title defence against Carlos Takam saw the Brit start off strong. Joshua sized up his opponent early in the first round, dodging Takam’s jabs before advancing forward and landing a solid left hook on the Cameroonian.

Joshua was shaken up in the second round with a nasty head knock with Takam. The champion clutched his nose in agony as his team rushed to clear up the blood.

Anthony Joshua is in a world of pain.

Wouldn't be surprised if Joshua's nose is broken from the accidental head butt #JoshuaTakam

— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_DStar) October 28, 2017

Looks like Joshua’s nose was broken by that butt

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) October 28, 2017

Takam paid for his blow soon after, copping a brutal knock from Joshua in the fourth which saw him hit the canvas.

The referee jumped in to intervene as the round ended. Ringside doctors deemed Takam to be able to see fifth round.

Takam copped a nasty cut above the eye in the fifth round which forced him to take a step back and clutch his wound as Joshua landed more blows.

7:50am

Dillian Whyte defeats Robert Helenius

Dillian Whyte has won the WBC Silver title with a calculated victory over Robert Helenius.

The heavyweight bout started slowly as Whyte interrupted his opponent’s momentum with a number of heavy KO attempts, forcing the Finn to duck and dodge for the first half of the match.

The match eventually went to a decision with Whyte claiming an easy win.

The final scoring came to 119-109, 119-109, 118-110 in Whyte’s favour.

Whyte beats Helenius by unanimous decision at the Principality Stadium. As one-sided a beating as you'll see.

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) October 28, 2017

That Whyte fight was a genuine horror show.

— Leigh Curtis (@LeighCurtis_NP) October 28, 2017

Joe Cordina claimed his fifth professional win soon after with a commanding victory over Lesther Cantillano.

7am

Katie Taylor makes history

Katie Taylor has taken home the world lightweight title.

Irish boxer Katie Taylor has taken home the WBA lightweight title with a stunning victory over Anahi Sanchez.

A left hook to the body from Taylor skittled Sanchez in the second round, leaving the Argentine off balance to set up a blow to the face. But Sanchez was able to recover, turning the fight into a brawl by the end of the final round.

The fight went the distance but was threatened to be stopped by a savage right hand from Taylor late in the piece, forcing referee Steve Gray to step in and take a look at the damage to Sanchez.

All three judges scored the 99-90 in Taylor’s favour, handing the 31-year-old the title only a year after turning professional.

“This is by far the biggest night of my career,” Taylor said.

Her feat snagged a rare piece of boxing history, becoming the first world lightweight champion since 1897.

Katie Taylor (WBA) is Ireland's first world lightweight champ since Cork's 'Napoleon of the Ring' Jack McAuliffe who retired undefeated 1897 pic.twitter.com/CKYfjfdneA

— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) October 28, 2017

Incredible performance by Katie Taylor. Great fight. Congratulations to the new champion!

— Dave O'Grady (@DaveOGrady1) October 28, 2017

6am

Yafai defends title

British boxer Kal Yafai made a second successful defence of his WBA super-flyweight title with a unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Sho Ishida on Saturday.

The judges scored it 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 in favour of Yafai, who handed his Japanese opponent the first loss of his career in Cardiff. Yafai moved to 23-0 (14 KOs) and has his sights on lucrative fights in the United States in a division that contains titleholders Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Naoya Inoue, and Jerwin Ancajas.

“I wasn’t too impressed with my performance out there,” said Yafai, who gave up a four-inch (10-centimeter) height advantage to Ishida (24-1). “A bit sluggish but I grinded out the win.” They were fighting on the undercard of the world heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Carlos Takam.

— with AP