Promoter Eddie Hearn pronounced Anthony Joshua the perfect heavyweight on the planet following his second-round knockout of novice Francis Ngannou on Friday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dominant Efficiency, Questionable Competitors
Hearn is embellishing Joshua’s credentials by calling him the perfect heavyweight on planet Earth. Joshua has been twice overwhelmed by Oleksandr Usyk, who has his quantity and would possible beat him a 3rd time, although Eddie insists he’s improved since their second struggle.
You may’t say for certain that Joshua has improved by testing him towards the perfect, that means Usyk and Tyson Fury. The opponents Joshua has confronted since dropping to Usyk for the second time have been too marginal to say that he’s the perfect fighter or that he’s improved.
Joshua’s final 4 opponents:
– Francis Ngannou: Novice– Otto Wallin: Journeyman– Robert Helenius: Ditto– Jermaine Franklin: Fringe contender
Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs), a fighter with 11 years of professional expertise behind himself, was an excessive amount of for the one-fight novice Francis Ngannou (0-2), knocking him down 3 times en spherical to a booming second-round knockout of their headliner on DAZN on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh.
The ultimate knockdown got here from a scorching proper hand thrown straight down the pipe, bowling Ngannou over. He fell on his again onto the canvas, the place he lay completely nonetheless for a number of moments. He was out chilly and unable to listen to the screaming from the followers within the Enviornment.
Hearn Pushes for Undisputed Title Shot
After the struggle, Hearn begged WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to win his struggle towards IBF, WBA, and WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk on Could 18th in order that he and Joshua might meet for the undisputed championship.
If Fury loses that struggle, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if Hearn pulls the set off on a trilogy match between AJ and Usyk or if he chooses to proceed to match him towards ex-MMA fighters and journeymen.
Ade Oladipo: “Lots of people say AJ is again. That is past again. I feel that is the perfect AJ we’ve seen in a very long time, perhaps ever,” mentioned Ade to the DAZN Boxing YouTube channel following Anthony Joshua’s second-round knockout win over Francis Ngannou on Friday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Eddie Hearn: “I’m so happy with him as a result of there was an enormous quantity of stress tonight. Individuals had been speaking about if he was to lose to Francis Ngannou what would occur. He rolled the cube as a result of His Excellency mentioned that if we win this struggle the winner of Fury vs. Usyk.
“There was a present right here in October, it was referred to as, ‘The Baddest of the Baddest’ to resolve the baddest man on the planet. They shouldn’t have executed it in October. They need to have executed it tonight since you’re wanting on the baddest man on the planet proper there [Joshua].
“You’re wanting on the #1 heavyweight on the planet, unquestionably. On this type, there isn’t any man on the planet that may beat him within the heavyweight division. I advised you he’s going to return again and develop into the heavyweight world champion. There’s an excellent fighter down there referred to as Tyson Fury.
“Please beat Oleksandr Usyk on Could 18th as a result of I promise this. You’ll get the most important struggle within the historical past of the game when Anthony Joshua takes the undisputed heavyweight championship. Ben, Leigh, the crew, however most of all, Anthony Joshua, who has at all times stayed within the health club, at all times labored. He’s by no means taken a shortcut in his complete life.
“As a fighter, he’s an inspiration to younger individuals, and I promise you, he ain’t getting beat. He’s the perfect heavyweight on the planet. That was one of the vital damaging knockouts I’ve ever seen.
“Individuals discuss how Tyson Fury did towards Ngannou. Neglect about that. What I mentioned would occur occurred. He went in there and destroyed Francis Ngannou. This man is a savage beast and the perfect heavyweight on the planet. I can’t look forward to him to beat Tyson Fury,” mentioned Hearn.
