Fans were quick to react to Tyson Fury after Anthony Joshua’s dominant knockout of Francis Ngannou.
Having beat the former UFC Champion in a narrow split-decision victory in late 2023, Fury was the centre of a social media stir as fans insisted he ‘stays away’ from Joshua.
AJ floored Ngannou for the first time in his career with less than a minute to go of the first round before forcing him to the deck twice in the second round.
After months of build-up, the two heavyweight stars finally met inside the squared circle on Friday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
One user wrote: ‘Tyson Fury’s stock has now dropped tremendously. What a KO Anthony Joshua. YOU ARE HIM!’
Fans quickly took to social media to warn Tyson Fury against facing Anthony Joshua
Many are suggesting this is Joshua entering his peak after a dominant spell in the ring
‘AJ’ saw off UFC Champion Francis Ngannou in just two rounds with an explosive knockout
Tyson Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday 18 May in Riyadh
The knockout was the third time in two rounds that AJ floored Ngannou
‘Tyson Fury… stay AWAY from Anthony Joshua’ another wrote.
‘Walahi, THIS VERSION OF AJ BEATS HIM!!!!!’ A third added.
‘WHAT A FIGHT WE’VE GOT IF FURY GETS W AGAINST USYK!!!!!!’ Wrote a fourth.
A final user posted: ‘That’s what happens when you put an elite fighter in with a total novice. No need to see these bouts. Never was, should not see them again. Joshua did what Fury should have done. Ngannou can box if he wants but start at the bottom and learn.’
Eddie Hearn called Joshua’s performance, ‘one of the most destructive knockouts I’ve ever seen.’
‘He’s a savage, a beast, the best heavyweight in the world, I can’t wait for him to beat Tyson Fury’ Hearn added.
AJ and Ngannou were contesting the co-main event on the ‘Knockout Chaos’ card in Saudi Arabia, attended by the good and great of sport.
Tyson Fury, Ronaldo Nazario, and Jose Mourinho were among the onlookers as Joshua floored Ngannou in the most hotly anticipated clash of the year so far.
Joshua, aged 34, stepped into this crossover showdown with Ngannou following consecutive victories over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin.
Meanwhile, it was Ngannou’s second professional boxing match following a split-decision loss to Tyson Fury.