Anthony Joshua is again of great importance. Francis Ngannou lay on his back three times. The time must come for the Gypsy King to settle his domestic differences with AJ.
Tyson Fury stood to applaud as his arch-rival sent a message about the road to the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world, leaving his own charged victory over Ngannou here five months ago sounding like a whisper.
Joshua is now praying that Fury takes all the alpha belts in May by blowing away Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian who ended his own reign as champion.
As dawn broke over the Saudi Arabian desert, Joshua could find himself joining the elite of three-time world title winners.
That is no longer a mirage. This spectacular victory in two murderous rounds was as much about himself as it was about Ngannou, the UFC legend who has made the transition to boxing.
Anthony Joshua (R) scored a stunning KO victory over Francis Ngannou (L) in their highly anticipated fight on Friday
The British star sent Ngannou to the canvas three times within three rounds during the heavyweight bout
The former UFC champion was stunned by Joshua’s power and precision that night
The Cameroonian is known as the biggest puncher in martial arts. That will have to be recalculated against the magnificent right hand blows that floored him three times in two rounds.
Ngannou got up twice, but miracles rarely come in threes. He will have to decide which fighting code to follow in this regard, while any talk of Joshua’s career coming to an end has been silenced.
“It is what it is,” said AJ when asked to rate this stunning performance. “It’s boxing.”
Modesty forbid him to elaborate further, but his promoter Eddie Hearn did it for him: ‘This is the best heavyweight in the world and I can’t wait to see him beat Fury.’
They love a late night in the Saudi kingdom and Joshua gave them a sunrise to stay up after the ringing of the first bell was delayed until 3:29 in the morning. Even for the traveling Brits, it was worth staying up all night.
Major boxing’s transition around the world from one desert, Nevada, to another, Arabia, is not all smooth sailing.
Finances are not a problem. Millions went into the fighters’ pockets, this promotion and the express construction of the Kingdom Arena.
But there is work to be done to fully convert the good people of Riyadh to the culture that made Las Vegas the capital of prizefighting.
Joshua landed a huge right hook that landed flush on the Cameroonian’s chin, in turn winning him the fight
Afterwards, Ngannou and Joshua hugged and had a brief conversation in the boxing ring
Joshua then took the microphone to discuss his future plans, including a possible fight with Tyson Fury
This impressive stadium was far from full for the return of Joshua and Ngannou.
Admittedly, this event was not preceded by the razzamatazz of the dazzling song and light show starring some of the world’s biggest pop stars, which drew crowds to Tyson Fury’s first venture here, marking Riyadh’s season of cultural and sporting entertainment was opened.
Fury himself, the great entertainer of the prize ring, was only in action this time via a TV microphone, not in the ring. But he received one of the most rousing cheers of the night when he took his seat in one of those amazing technicolor dream suits of his.
Just like Jose Mourinho when he fueled speculation that he is about to take the camel train to one of Saudi Arabia’s big football clubs for a salary that he is expected to negotiate further from the opening offer of $100 million per year . once he was fired as manager of Roma.
A third Special One spell at Chelsea appears to be out of the question.
Joshua was later described by promoter Eddie Hearn as ‘the best heavyweight in the world’ after the win
Those in attendance started to heat up the fight atmosphere when they took issue with Liverpool’s Nick Ball, who was denied the WBC featherweight world champion when his challenge against Ray Vargas was called a draw despite having beaten the Mexican twice.
They roared when Zillie Zhang, the Big Banger from China, dropped Joseph Parker twice. Then they stood and applauded as the smart and courageous Kiwi outboxed and stunned the Giant Panda through the other ten rounds.
Perhaps Saudi sports enthusiasts are quick learners when it comes to the Noble Art.
They waited for further relief from Joshua and Ngannou.