Anthony Joshua urged Francis Ngannou to continue his boxing career after the former two-time heavyweight world champion delivered a sensational second-round knockout victory in their bout in Riyadh on Friday night.
Competing in only his second professional boxing fight - his first was a split decision defeat to WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October - Ngannou was overwhelmed by Joshua in the 'Knockout Chaos' main event, being floored in the opening round before being knocked out cold in the second. "When I saw the fight with Fury, I thought, this guy could fight, I wanted a piece of that,” said Joshua post-fight. "He's an inspiration, a great champion, and this shouldn't take away from his capabilities. "He can come again.
I told him he shouldn't leave boxing. He's two fights in, and he's fought the best. He can go a long way if he stays dedicated." Joshua, a former unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, went into the fight on the back of three successive wins.
Before that, however, he lost back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk, who will take on Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia in May.