Sports Box
After a lightning knockout against Ngannou, Joshua is now the focus of the World Cup
As of: 11:29 a.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
Anthony Joshua (r.) in the fight against Francis Ngannou at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh
Which: AP/STR
There is a special boxing spectacle in Saudi Arabia. Former world champion Anthony Joshua takes on Francis Ngannou, former mixed martial arts fighter. The fight is decided quicker than expected. Football stars cheer at the ring.
Former heavyweight boxing world champion Anthony Joshua has recommended himself for another title fight. The Briton dispatched former mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou with a second-round knockout at the fight evening in Riyadh on Saturday night.
Joshua, who has now celebrated four wins in a row after his defeat in the world championship fight against the Ukrainian Alexander Usyk in August 2022, is hoping for a fight for the world championship belt soon. Before that, there will be the big title unification fight between world champions Usyk and Tyson Fury on May 18th – also in the capital of Saudi Arabia.
“He shouldn’t leave boxing”
Ngannou impressed in his first professional boxing match last October and suffered a narrow and not undisputed defeat on points against the reigning WBC world champion Tyson Fury.
Francis Ngannou (l.) is lying on the ground, referee Ricky Gonzalez is checking his condition
Quelle: Getty Images/Richard Pelham
The former cage fighter had competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for years and was heavyweight champion there. But he had no chance against Joshua in the Kingdom Arena.
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“I told him not to leave boxing. He can do it well. He fought against the best in the two fights. He can go far if he stays committed,” Joshua said.
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The fight in Riyadh also attracted a lot of celebrities: including the former Brazilian soccer world champion Ronaldo and star soccer coach José Mourinho.
