Knockout Chaos has finally wrapped up and what an eventful night we’ve had. Despite the event dragging on for almost 8 hours, the wait was well worth it in the end. As the title of the event suggests, we did see Anthony Joshua deliver a knockout chaos on the night.
For those unaware, Anthony Joshua took on Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to determine who would be the next in line for heavyweight title contention. With it being a massive spectacle, many were keen to see what would happen when the two giants would square off against one another.
The moment that @anthonyjoshua DESTROYED Francis Ngannou 🤯#JoshuaNgannou | #KnockoutChaos | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/ONl1rlhSlo
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 9, 2024
Oddly enough, many were expecting Francis Ngannou to give Anthony Joshua a run for his money. Whilst Joshua was favored to win the fight, he was expected to face a lot of adversity, as did Tyson Fury before him. However, on the night, the Englishman made light work of his opposition, delivering a thundering KO in Round 2 to end the fight.
Anthony Joshua comforted Francis Ngannou after KO win
Naturally, owing to his performance against Tyson Fury, there were a lot of expectations from Francis Ngannou. However, when faced with a lean, mean killing machine like Anthony Joshua, the former UFC man looked like a fish out of water. On the night, Joshua did within one round what Fury could not do in an entire fight when he sat Ngannou down in the first.
Shortly thereafter, there was a growing feeling that it was going to be a quick night at the office as the look of defeat slowly came over Ngannou. Soon after the start of Round 2, the Cameroonian once again found himself on the canvas, fully realizing what he was up against. After that, it was only a matter of seconds after he got up that AJ landed one of the biggest right overhands to fold Ngannou on the canvas.
Absolutely loving this moment between @anthonyjoshua, @Francis_ngannou and @Turki_alalshikh ❤️️#JoshuaNgannou, live now worldwide on DAZN. Buy 𝗡𝗢𝗪 at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv #KnockoutChaos | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/kVqORMyUym
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 9, 2024
However, being the absolute gentleman that he is, Anthony Joshua commended his opponent after the fight. Alongside Turki Alalshikh, the Englishman could be heard telling Ngannou, “You’re an inspiration. Beat a lot of people, and don’t leave boxing. Don’t leave”. A class act in victory and defeat, AJ went on to repeat the same in his post-fight interview as well.
Francis Ngannou required serious medical attention after getting knocked out
Naturally, the highlight of the night was the moment when Anthony Joshua shut out Francis Ngannou’s lights. In what was one of the most viral knockouts in recent times, one of the baddest men on the planet slumped over in a heap. A sight that many thought they would never see, the former UFC heavyweight champion was laid out like he had done to his opponents in the past.
Rewatching the final fight-ending sequence, many saw a similarity between how Francis hit the canvas and how he sent Stipe Miocic to the canvas at UFC 260 back in 2021. With that said Ngannou’s condition was assumed to be very serious with a plethora of medical staff attending to him for what seemed like a lot of time. After the fight was over, it took nearly 10-15 minutes for the MMA fighter to get back to his feet.
Ngannou is laying on the mat. Out cold. He hasn’t moved.
Unbelievable.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 9, 2024
Ngannou sitting on the stool now. Getting oxygen.
First time he’s been knocked down and knocked out.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 9, 2024
Notably, as many pointed out, he also needed an oxygen mask, likely to bring him back to full consciousness. In what was certainly a scary moment, to say the least, many feared the worst. As such Ariel Helwani also took to Twitter to write about the same. Understandably, the cameras were also shifted away from a recovering Ngannou who was thankfully up and on his feet after a while.