The sporting world has reacted to Anthony Joshua‘s outrageous knockout win over Francis Ngannou, with Tony Bellew amongst those celebrating the British fighter’s latest victory.

Joshua made a statement of his ambitions to become a three-time heavyweight world champion by sending Ngannou to the canvas for the third time in Friday’s marquee clash in Saudi Arabia.

What was previously expected to be a close contest turned into one of Joshua’s most impressive and brutal wins as he produced a sickening knockout blow.

Ngannou crashed to the canvas as his legs buckled under him after Joshua’s huge right-hand connected with the ex-UFC champion’s chin in the second-round.

All eyes of the sporting world were on Joshua to see if he could find a way past the powerhouse of Ngannou that had previously floored Tyson Fury as he delivered a win in the best possible fashion.

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The sporting world has reacted to Anthony Joshua ‘s outrageous knockout win over Francis Ngannou

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Joshua delivered a devastating right-hand that left Ngannou sprawled out on the canvas

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The 34-year-old was back to his frightening best as he dominated Ngannou and now wants to secure an all-British unification bout against Fury provided his countryman beats Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk first.

Celebrities were out en masse in Riyadh on Friday evening, as the likes of Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo watched Joshua’s victory ringside, while others followed along from home and all were equally impressed.

Former Man United and Chelsea manager, Mourinho, congratulated Joshua ringside before later taking to social media and posting a video of the knockout alongside the caption: ‘wowwwwwww’.

Joshua’s long-term friend and former WBC cruiserweight champion, Tony Bellew, described the win as a ‘statement’ performance, posting on X: ‘Statement!! Exceptional! Just a couple of words to describe that performance…’.

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Joshua’s close friend and former boxer Tony Bellew hailed the victory as ‘exceptional’

There was further praise from Michael Owen as the Premier League icon, posted in reaction to Joshua’s win: ‘Wow. Not seen as brutal a knockout as that in a long time.’

The responses continued as former boxer Anthony Fowler warned UFC fighters to stop trying to crossover into boxing: ‘That’s what a world class boxer should be doing to a MMA fighter, respect to Ngannou for getting in there, Joshua wouldn’t get in the cage with him.’

There was even higher praise from Fury’s Queensberry promoter Frank Warren who quipped ‘that was a statement win’, while Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn labelled him as the ‘baddest man on the planet’.

Youtuber and WWE superstar Logan Paul – who has previously ventured into professional boxing – was shocked as he watched replays of Joshua’s knocjout and commented: ‘my god’.