HIGHLIGHTS. Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in the second round

Today, at the "Kingdom Arena" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, one of the paramount pugilistic events of the year took place. Former heavyweight world champion from Britain, Anthony Joshua (28-3), squared off in the ring against former UFC heavyweight champion, Cameroonian Francis Ngannou (0-2 in boxing).

The bout lasted only two rounds.

In the first round, Ngannou tasted the canvas. And at the outset of the second round, Joshua once again dispatched the Cameroonian pugilist to the canvas, yet Ngannou rose to continue the bout. After another knockdown, a few seconds later, the referee halted the contest.

For Ngannou, this bout marked his second professional endeavor in his career. Earlier last year, he made the decision to depart from the UFC, and on October 28, he engaged in combat against Britain's Tyson Fury, but also suffered defeat.

Anthony Joshua engaged in three bouts over the past year, all of which were victorious for him, two of them by knockout. Prior to this, the Briton had bouts against Ukrainian Alexander Usyk in 2021 and 2022, both of which Joshua lost.

It was previously reported that the victor of the Joshua-Ngannou bout would face the triumphant contender of the two battles between Usyk and Fury.