by The ending was as abrupt as it was predictable. Francis Ngannou, a very good heavyweight champion in the adversarial world of mixed martial arts, slowly and unsteadily walked towards Anthony Joshua. He has already been knocked down twice in the second round as a professional boxer. Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist and former two-time heavyweight champion of the world, closed the show. He took out the reeling novice with a cold, merciless finish.
Early Saturday morning in Riyadh it was fully expected but still strangely scary. Joshua he had so much time he could plant his feet, take aim and unleash a vicious overhand right that stuck Ngannou so hard on his temple that he began to slide unconscious as he fell to the canvas. Within seconds, he was stretched flat on his back. The referee, waving his left hand frantically to indicate that the fight was over in the second round, ran to his rescue.
Related: Anthony Joshua drops Ngannou three times in a fierce two-round knockout
Boxing thrives on that graphic violence, which means that even for those of us who still somehow love the courage, intent and skill of its fighters, it’s ultimately a grim and grim business. Joshua understands these harsh truths, having been shockingly stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr Jr and dismantled twice by Oleksandr Usyk. He didn’t roar or celebrate Ngannou’s demise by climbing the ropes. Instead, Joshua looked away from his opponent and quietly walked across to his new trainer, Ben Davison, who tapped his gloves in recognition of a brutal job well done.
They were right not to be happy in jubilation. Joshua did his work with clinical efficiency and showed some of the weight that all heavyweights carry inside. Mike Tyson used to produce these stoical reactions better than any other fighter. After destroying another hapless opponent, Tyson would go around the ring with a disdainful lack of surprise. A stern expression showed his certainty that the outcome was always clear. He was cold and intimidating and contributed to the Iron Mike mythos.
But Tyson was lost in a dark maze. He ended up settling outside the ring and between the ropes. Joshua, a student of heavyweight boxing, has immersed himself in these powerful and tragic stories but quietly – and died through the pain of his own defeat.
Joshua also knew that as long as he prepared hard and fought with a calm mind, he would blow Ngannou. He has been boxing professionally for 10 years and 10 months, although it has been just over four months since Ngannou turned pro.
The logic of boxing was skewed on that surreal night last October when Ngannou, in his first fight as a boxer, knocked out Tyson Fury in the third round. Fury rose and overshadowed victory split decision. Ngannou performed admirably and yet Fury was lethargic and not his usual lack of aggression.
It was a realization when Joshua crushed Ngannou in the desert of Saudi Arabia. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, took advantage of Joshua’s exaggeration to avoid it. “You’re looking at the worst man in the world,” Hearn said, stealing one of Tyson’s old nicknames when referring to Joshua. “He’s the best heavyweight in the world, and I can’t wait for him to beat Tyson Fury.”
Hearn’s statement was almost as absurd as the very idea of these diagonal fights. Fury, of all people, spoke wisely in his response to Hearn’s bombardment: “I’m sure Oleksandr Usyk will have something to say about that, assuming it’s a blow. [Joshua] twice. It’s me and Usyk who fight for the position of No. 1 and No. 2 and the undisputed world champion [in May]. I had a shit performance against Ngannou. I didn’t say anything different. Joshua knocked him out and that’s what a boxer should do.”
Usyk holds the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles, while Fury retains his WBC belt. Their strong bout is the real deal and should confirm the first undisputed world heavyweight champion of the 21st century. The last man to claim that elevated status, in 1999, was Lennox Lewis, another great fighter who contributed to Tyson’s destruction.
It was a week in which Joshua restored some order and clarity to boxing – by highlighting the dangerous folly of such lopsided bouts. They should not be allowed as permanent damage can still occur.
Of course, this being boxing, a grim announcement was made the day before Joshua faced Ngannou. On July 20, Jake Paul, the YouTube-influenced professional boxer, will fight Tyson in a “massive showdown” at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The stunt bout, which will be broadcast live on Netflix, is predicted to draw a crowd of 80,000 and generate more than $100m. Tyson will be just 58 years old.
Hearn, who has previously promoted YouTube snippets, said the news was “very sad. It’s a big event but that particular fight is very unfortunate for people who love the sport very much.”
For all the harsh realism that Joshua unleashed just before 3.30am on Saturday morning, the madness of boxing continues. But, in the dead of night, we were reminded that only true boxers should be engaged in such dangerous terrain.
