Anthony Joshua produced a classy display to knockout tough
American Dominic Breazeale and make a successful first defence of his IBF world
heavyweight crown.
The 24-year-old dropped Breazeale - only the second man to
take him past three rounds - in the seventh with a huge left, right
combination.
He got up that time but soon after, at 1min 01secs into the
round, a barrage of blows rained in on the American and ensured his fight was
over.
It was an impressive, gutsy display from the challenger and
an even more impressive performance from Big Josh. He needed someone who could take him into the middle rounds
and he showed he could handle the extra distance.
Joshua will take a couple of weeks out and then look at a
fight with New Zealand's Joseph Parker, the IBF's mandatory challenger.
Stars of sport and showbiz including golfer Rory McIlroy,
England cricket captain Alastair Cook, former world heavyweight champion Frank
Bruno, chef Gordon Ramsey and Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts were among those
here at London's O2 Arena who paid a wonderful tribute to The Greatest,
Muhammad Ali, ahead of the first world heavyweight contest since his death
earlier this month.
Near silence fell on the packed arena as ten bells were
sounded in his honour and, as master of ceremonies Michael Buffer pointed
skywards and said, 'Rest in peace, Champ', a huge roar of appreciation replaced
the quiet.
Joshua had entered the ring for his last fight against
Charles Martin wearing what he described as an old-school white robe, a nod to
the apparel of Ali's day, and he returned wearing the same last night to face
the challenge of Breazeale.
The 30-year-old American's record of 17 fights and 17 wins
suggested he was no chump and at 6ft 7in he stood an inch taller than his
opponent.
As a fighter, however, he is not a patch on Joshua, just a
tough, tough man with a solid chin.
Joshua looked relaxed and, despite his height disadvantage,
when the two men stripped down to ther shorts and took to the centre of the
ring it was the Brit who looked bigger.
And it was Joshua who found his rhythm quickest, too, an
early left warning Breazeale of the sort of power he could expect before a
couple of rights found their way through.
It was soon apparent that Breazeale couldn't match Joshua's
speed and early in round two the right again found its target a couple of
times, marking the challenger to the side of his right eye. By the end of the round that eye was black and puffed up as
Joshua stepped up the pace.
He had said in the build-up to this fight that he wouldn't
have minded it going at least six or seven rounds and when Breazeale did find
his way through with one right hand Joshua's response was pleasing, a lightning
two-shot reply.
The American stood firm though but as Joshua jabbed away he
wasn't going to stay there and finally he crumbled in the seventh.
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