Briton Anthony Joshua deliver di most powerful statement to di heavyweight division wit a destructive second-round knockout win ova Francis Ngannou for Saudi Arabia.
Joshua, 34, floor di UFC champion for di first round and early for di second.
A dazed Ngannou bin rise to im feet for Riyadh but im dey stunned by one explosive and formidable right moments later as di referee stop di contest.
Di 37-year-old appear to dey out bifor e even hit di canvas and require medical treatment.
“I dey go back to my cage and wen dem let me out, I go fight again,” Joshua tok, as WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury watch on from ringside.
Fury bin make tough work of Ngannou for October wen di UFC champion drop am bifor edging points win.
“Wen I see di fight wit Tyson Fury I tink ‘I want some of dat’. [Ngannou] na great champion and dis no take anytin away from im capabilities,” Joshua tok.
“I tell am make e no leave boxing. Na two fight e don fight, and e don fight di best.”
Di victory for Joshua wey be two-time world champion na di fourth in 11 months, and dis keep im ambition of recapturing a world title alive.
Eddie Hearn bin call for Joshua, wey im don promote throughout di heavyweight pro career, to face di winner of Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Di pair go fight to become di undisputed heavyweight world champion for May, wit a rematch later in di year.
“In five years I no go fight,” Joshua add. “Eddie Hearn and my team go shape my future.”
How di match take waka
Wit di card running more dan one hour later dan planned, na 03:20 local time wen master of ceremonies Michael Buffer introduce Ngannou to di ring.
Im wear pink and white robe wit gold tassels, Ngannou make di solitary walk down di aisle to di tune of ‘God’s Plan’ by Drake.
Joshua wey bin frown im face look full of purpose as im walk to di ring wit confidence. E kneel down and recite a prayer for im own corner.
Joshua bin draw di loudest reaction, a mixture of boos and jeers. Dat one no concern am, im eyes set firmly on Ngannou.
And na start wey dey almost perfect for di Watford-born fighter. Ngannou just narrowly miss wit lead left hand as Joshua remain calm and composed.
AJ bin extend im backhand to land a flush right down di pipe. By flooring Ngannou, Joshua do within three minutes wetin Fury fail to do in 10 rounds four months ago.
Ngannou wey dey shocked get up on di count of eight and see out di round.
Joshua don become smarter fighter in recent years – im dey develop im technical ability. Im bin doubt im jab, bid im time and wait for opening.
Anoda right hand make Ngannou clamour on di floor. E beat di count in di nick of time but di writing dey on di wall.
DI finishing punch na one wey go undoubtedly take centre stage in future Joshua knockout highlights reel.
A statement win wey shele for Saudi
A well-schooled amateur boasting Olympic gold and a two-time world champion wit wins against some of di best for di division, Joshua experience show for di early hours for Riyadh.
Di razzmatazz of Saudi boxing bin dey on show, although critics still dey claim say di Kingdom dey use high-profile sporting events to ‘sports wash’ away dia human rights records.
While e no be di star studded affair seen in past event for di region, former champions Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao bin rub shoulders wit di likes of football manager Jose Mourinho and Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo.
Di card bin dey billed as ‘knockout chaos’ but di Saudi crowd – as dem usually do – behave in a veri quiet and orderly manner.
Di pressure bin dey on Joshua to deliver message to rival Fury. A fighter wey don face intense level of scrutiny in recent years, Joshua bin acknowledge di impact of trainer Ben Davison.
Davison bin dey Joshua corner for di second time, afta im also oversee December dominant win ova Otto Wallin.
“I bin no wan disrespect Ngannou but someone like AJ neva hit am before,” Davison tell BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I go let pipo judge weda im dey improve. Di only way to find out who be di best na to get di winner of Fury and Usyk. Dat na di only tin wey make sense.”
We go see weda Ngannou listen to Joshua advice and return to di sport anytime soon, but di ‘Predator’ na proven winner – weda in life, for UFC octagon or for boxing ring.
Im journey don take am from a 12-year-old wey bin work for sand quarry for Cameroon to pesin wey live on di streets of Paris, bifor im become UFC champion.
Although im childhood dream of becoming a boxing world champion fit no become reality, Ngannou dey set to return to MMA later dis year wit di PFL in search of im next prey.
