Anthony Joshua delivered an unforgettable knockout blow to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou during their match in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou, who had nearly upset Tyson Fury in his boxing debut, faced a swift defeat in the ring against Joshua. Despite early confidence, Ngannou was knocked down in the first round by Joshua’s straight right hand. The situation worsened in the second round as Joshua landed another powerful right, sending Ngannou to the canvas once more. Despite briefly regaining his footing, Ngannou was ultimately knocked out cold by a devastating overhand right from Joshua.

After the fight, Joshua acknowledged Ngannou’s skill and expressed respect for him as a champion, encouraging him not to give up on boxing. Ngannou, after a few minutes of being motionless on the canvas, eventually received medical attention and stood up to acknowledge Joshua before leaving the ring without speaking.

Ngannou’s second boxing venture ended far differently than his first, despite initially showing promise in the ring against Joshua. Joshua capitalized on the opportunity, recognizing that his right hand was finding its mark consistently. Ngannou struggled to anticipate and defend against Joshua’s punches, leading to his eventual knockout.

Joshua, who once dismissed the match as a gimmick, commended Ngannou for proving himself in the boxing world, especially after his close fight with Fury. He now awaits the outcome of Fury’s match against Oleksandr Usyk, hoping to face the winner.

For Ngannou, the loss marks a disappointing end to a remarkable journey that began with signing to fight Fury and concluded with a knockout defeat to Joshua. While his next move is uncertain, a return to MMA seems probable, with Renan Ferreira waiting for a chance to face him in the PFL.