In a stunning display of boxing prowess, Anthony Joshua reclaimed his status as a heavyweight contender by delivering a second-round knockout against Francis Ngannou. The bout, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw Joshua dominate the former UFC heavyweight champion with a pair of knockdowns before sealing the deal with a decisive final blow.

Joshua’s victory was not just a win in the ring but a statement to the boxing world. Having previously held three of the four recognized heavyweight titles, he reminded everyone of his elite status and potential threat to Tyson Fury, who watched from ringside. This win comes off the back of Joshua’s previous setbacks against Oleksandr Usyk, from whom he lost his titles in 2021 and 2022.

The fight card also featured Joseph Parker, who edged closer to heavyweight title contention with a majority decision over Zhilei Zhang, securing the WBO interim title. Despite suffering two knockdowns, Parker’s consistent activity earned him the judges’ favor.

In another closely contested match, Rey Vargas managed to retain his WBC featherweight title against Nick Ball in a split draw, where neither fighter could claim victory.