Joshua vs Ngannou LIVE: Boxing result, highlights and fight reaction after crushing knockout last night

Here’s Steve Bunce, who was ringside to watch Joshua’s stunning win:

Anthony Joshua stood at the feet of Francis Ngannou in round two of their fight in Riyadh in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Joshua just looked down, there was no merry dance of celebration or relief; it was strictly business.

Joshua had just sent Ngannou down for the third time and this time the former UFC champion was not moving. He was out cold and required medical attention in the ring.

It was the only possible result for Anthony Joshua in a fight that he had to win. It is possible that a scrappy, ugly points victory would have not helped his image. The knockout was essential.

Joshua was fighting for his future, defending his ring history and had to beat Ngannou in style. He did, and it was brutal, cold and calculating.

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Ngannou will take some time away from the ring to reassess after his bold step into boxing took a serious knock.

He had been linked with a rematch against Fury, as well as a bout against American former world champion Deontay Wilder, while he is set to return to MMA at some point this year to fight the new Ballator heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira.

But Joshua urged the Cameroonian to continue his boxing career, and Ngannou insisted he is “not done” with the sport and that there is more to come.

“As for right now, I think I’m going to go home, get some rest, process what just happened,” he said. “This has been a hell of a day, since this morning. I’ll process it and see what is the next step. But maybe MMA, but you can be sure that I’m not done here [in boxing]. Absolutely not. I’m not done.”

Later, Ngannou tweeted: “Sorry guys I let you all down. Today was a bad day in the office but tomorrow will be another day. Thank you all for the love.”

Francis Ngannou congratulated his conqueror Anthony Joshua after being blown away in a devastating second-round knockout by the Briton, and admitted afterwards that he never even felt the final punch.

Joshua delivered a heavyweight clinic with a dominant victory in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, and in doing so reclaimed his status as one of the world’s elite heavyweights after several tough years in the sport since losing his world titles to Oleksandr Usyk.

Ngannou rocked Tyson Fury in the same city back in October, sending him to the canvas and eventually losing a controversial split decision. That performance was his first in professional boxing since making the transition from MMA, and left plenty of commentators questioning whether Joshua could handle his speed and power.

But Joshua proved he was far too good with a blistering display and a brutal finish.

“That was a clean one,” Ngannou said of the final blow. “In fact, I didn’t feel the punch. That’s what the knockout is about. I don’t feel any pain. That’s how I know I was knocked out ... It was quite special because it stopped me. It did what Tyson Fury couldn’t do. It wasn’t my day, and he’s just way better than me today. It sucks, but it’s the game, we all know that. It’s the game.”

Conor Benn was coy when asked about a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao on Friday, but admitted that it would likely take place in Saudi Arabia.

Benn faced off with the multi-weight world champion on Thursday (7 March), at the weigh-in for Anthony Joshua’s fight with Francis Ngannou in Riyadh.

British welterweight Benn, 27, is unbeaten but has seen his career stall somewhat since failing two drug tests in 2022. Those test results derailed a planned bout with Chris Eubank Jr and led to a suspension for Benn, who remains unable to box in the UK.

He has, however, recorded two recent wins in the US, and he said on Friday (8 March) that his next fight could take place in Saudi Arabia.