Heavy Lifting: Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker Score Big Wins

Former heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua of Watford, England (28-3, 25 KOs) and Joseph Parker of New Zealand (35-3, 24 KOs) scored impressive wins over their opponents in the early morning hours of Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their comebacks after losing represent a narrative sorely needed in boxing.

Uno, Dos, Adios: Joshua Drills Ngannou

Anthony Joshua's knockout of Francis Ngannou was shocking in its finality. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Most experts and oddsmakers favored Joshua over MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou of Cameroon (0-2), believing Joshua would patiently break down the talented Ngannou with his superior boxing skills and experience.

Uno, dos, adios. None predicted Joshua's spectacular knockout win in the second round following two quick knockdowns. The first came off a left-hand jab feint, and Ngannou dropped his right hand to respond. Joshua caught him with his chin open for the right cross halfway through the first round, dropping Ngannou to his seat. Ngannou got to his feet after the first knockdown of his entire combat sports career. He managed to make his way to the end of the round.

Anthony Joshua beat Francis Ngannou to the punch with devastating effect. starting with this first-round knockdown.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

In the second, Joshua matched skills with power, catching Ngannou with every feint and beating him to the punch with footwork and speed. Ngannou was a large deer in the AJ headlights. Joshua landed a second hard right hand halfway through the second round, followed by the left.

“He got up, he looked pretty stable. So I thought, just keep doing what you're doing, and what will be, will be,” recalled Joshua at the post-fight news conference.

Ngannou got up, but now he was a sitting duck. Joshua closed the show, drilling Ngannou with one of the hardest single shots he's ever landed as a pro, the third and final right hand. Ngannou was out cold, with no need for a count by referee Ricky Gonzalez of the United States at 2:38 of round two. Ngannou received immediate medical attention and was able to get up on his own.

Ngannou: ‘I didn't feel the punch'

At the post-fight news conference, Francis Ngannou admitted he had never felt the knockout punch. Photo: Matchroom Boxing/YouTube

Appearing at the post-fight news conference, Ngannou smiled and said, “Yeah, that was a clean one. He was quite special. He did what Tyson Fury couldn't do. It wasn't my day. He was just way better than me today. That is the game, we all know that.”

Ngannou said he didn't feel the punch. “That's what the knockout is all about. I didn't feel any pain, that's how I know I was knocked out,” laughed Ngannou.

“Thank you, Francis Ngannou, for making boxing great again,” Joshua said later. “I work as hard as I can, and I put the rest in God's hands.”

“Half you lot thought he was going to beat me. I don't have to prove anything. I do it for myself,” declared Joshua. He complimented Ngannou for his efforts. “Honestly, he's a great fighter. He's a risk taker, he's a dreamer. He's come a long way, and he has a long way to go.” Joshua encouraged Ngannou to keep his head high and hoped to work with him in Africa on one of his charitable efforts.

Joshua Credits Trainer Davison

Anthony Joshua credited trainer Ben Davison for helping him perform at the highest level. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing.

Joshua credited trainer Ben Davison with putting him in position to win, saying he always had the right tools, but Davison showed him how to use them.

“The best thing is, I can get back to the gym, build on another solid training camp, and get back in the ring and do another job. That's what I'm happy about,” added Joshua, who brushed off pressure about chasing titles and said he didn't want to be called the baddest man on the planet. “I focus on myself unless they want to do business,” laughed Joshua.

Fury Aims at Anthony Joshua After Usyk

Business is good for Joshua. After the fight, WBC World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury complimented Joshua on his performance but said facing him would be a different story.

“I've always said AJ is built to measure for me,” said Fury. “Boxing is a very difficult game. Styles make fights and his style is made for me. “When I've got through with The Rabbit,” referring to unifed champion Oleksandr Usyk,  “then we go down for AJ.” Fury and Usyk's delayed title unification fight is scheduled on Saturday, May 18, back at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Ngannou said he would go home to process what had happened. “It's been a hell of a day. Maybe MMA, but for sure, I'm not done yet here (with boxing).”

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Joseph Parker Pushs Past Knockdowns to Win Decision over Zhilei Zhang

Although Joseph Parker suffered two knockdowns, he dominated his 12-round fight, defeating Zhilei Zhang by decision to win the Interim WBO World Heavyweight Title. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

In the much-anticipated co-main event, Parker fought back from two knockdowns by Zhilei Zhang of China (26-2-1, 21 KOs), controlling every other moment and aspect of the 12-round bout. He won a majority decision victory with scores of 115-111, 114-112, and 113-113.

While it may not have been what fans hoped for, Parker's display of determination, skill, and resilience didn't fail to impress. He is now in position as a mandatory challenger once Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk finish their business, and belts will eventually be in play in late 2024 or 2025.

“Yeaaaaaaay! Thank you to my team. This is a great win,” said Parker. “Zhang is a tough man. He knocked me down twice. But Andy (trainer Andy Lee) in the corner told me to keep my composure. I’m very happy, I want to go home and celebrate.”

Parker Outboxes, Outfoxes Zhang

Although Zhilei Zhang scored two knockdowns against Joseph Parker, he offered little else.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Without a doubt, Zhang's power is impressive and undeniable. He scored knockdowns against Parker in the third and seventh rounds on short, compact right hands. Neither looked like they had a lot of force, but Zhang doesn't need much to drop an opponent.

Both times, Parker got up and shook off any ringing in his ears. Both times, Parker rallied back, listening to Lee and relying on his superior speed, snap, and surprisingly good defense, changing levels and making himself a harder target for Zhang to find.

Zhilei Zhang was too patient, allowing Joseph Parker to dictate the pace of their fight. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Zhang played along, being too patient and failing to close the fight by stopping Parker. Zhang's longtime trainer, Shaun George, saw what was unfolding. George told Zhang in the corner before the final round, “I don't trust these judges. Listen to me. You got to go, get him the fuck outta here.” Zhang failed to land a single punch in the 12th round, sealing the victory for Parker.

Asked how he worked his way back from the devastating loss to Joe Joyce in 2022 to be standing as one of the world's top heavyweights, Parker said simple, “Hard work, hard work, hard work. I have George (trainer George Lockhart) here, and Andy  here to thank.

Tyson Fury congratulates his friend and sparring partner Joseph Parker after his win. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

“It’s an incredible feeling coming back from that loss.” Parker is now in position as the WBO interim heavyweight champion to be in position to fight the winner of Fury vs. Usyk, but this won't happen for some time. Instead, Parker said there was a rematch clause and that he expected to fight Zhang again.

“(This is) Just the beginning,” said Andy Lee. “We’re going to do better, we’ll do a lot better and go even harder this time.”  Whether there's any appetite for it after Parker thoroughly dominated Zhang will dictate whether it happens. But count on Parker to stay busy, which is good for Parker and boxing.