Joshua Knocks Out Ngannou in Round 2 at Kingdom Arena

Anthony Joshua knocked out Francis Ngannou in the second round of their heavyweight clash at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on 8 March 2024. The “Knockout Chaos” main event ended with one of the most emphatic knockouts of Joshua’s career, as the former two-time unified champion floored the ex-UFC heavyweight champion three times before the finish.

Joshua drew first blood late in the opening round with a straight right hand through Ngannou’s guard. Early in the second, another right hand put Ngannou down again. He beat the count, but Joshua immediately landed an unblocked right that knocked Ngannou out cold. The 37-year-old was out briefly before reaching his stool, where officials administered oxygen. It was the first time Ngannou had ever been knocked down or knocked out in combat sports.

How the fight unfolded

Joshua controlled the distance with his jab from the opening bell, though Ngannou landed a few solid shots early. With less than a minute left in round one, Joshua abruptly ended the feeling-out phase, firing a straight right that sent Ngannou to the canvas.

The second round brought a swift conclusion. An unblocked right hand dropped Ngannou in an early exchange. He rose unsteadily, and Joshua wasted no time, landing the finishing right hand at 2:38 of the round that ended the fight. Joshua and Ngannou embraced afterwards and spoke at length in the ring.

“I told him he shouldn’t leave boxing,” Joshua said. “He can do well. Remember, he’s two fights in, and he’s fought the best.”

Background: why this fight happened

Ngannou had stunned the combat sports world in his professional boxing debut the previous October, dropping WBC champion Tyson Fury in the third round before losing a narrow split decision. That performance turned a curiosity bout into a genuine event.

For Joshua, the fight was a step on the road back to a world title shot after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. He had rebuilt with wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin, and a win over Ngannou put him in position to face the winner of Fury vs Usyk, then scheduled for 18 May 2024.

The fighters

Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian-French former UFC heavyweight champion. He won the UFC title in 2021 by knocking out Stipe Miocic, then beat Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision at UFC 270 in January 2022 to unify the belt. He left the UFC in 2023 and turned to boxing.

Anthony Joshua is a British former two-time unified heavyweight champion who has boxed professionally since 2013. An Olympic gold medallist from London 2012, he held the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles. The win over Ngannou took his record to 28-3 with 25 knockouts, and he remains an active professional boxer.

Fight details

Frequently asked questions

Who won Joshua vs Ngannou?
Anthony Joshua won by second-round knockout on 8 March 2024 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, flooring Ngannou three times.

Where was Joshua vs Ngannou held?
At Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, headlining the “Knockout Chaos” card.

Did Ngannou beat Ciryl Gane?
Yes. Ngannou beat Gane by unanimous decision at UFC 270 in January 2022 to unify the UFC heavyweight championship, before leaving the promotion in 2023.

Is Anthony Joshua still boxing?
Yes. Joshua has boxed professionally since 2013 and remains active; the Ngannou win took his record to 28-3 with 25 knockouts.

Last updated: 22 October 2026. Sources: Associated Press, Sportstar (AFP), Bleacher Report.