Anthony Joshua defended his IBF
heavyweight title by knocking out Dominic Breazeale in the seventh round
Saturday, ending his American challenger’s unbeaten record.
It was only the second time in the
26-year-old Joshua’s career than he has required more than three rounds
to see off an opponent.
“I’m tired and I’m working hard,’’ said
Joshua, who improved his professional record to 17-0 since winning the
Olympic title in 2012 in London. “Now I can recharge my batteries and
start afresh again.’’
A devastating left-right combination
early in the seventh round – similar to those that stopped many of the
Briton’s 16 previous opponents – sent Breazeale to the canvas so heavily
it appeared the fight was over.
Somehow Breazeale (17-1) got back to his
feet, clinging to the last seconds of his undefeated professional
record, before a further barrage dropped him again.
It left the referee with little choice
but to wave the action over, one minute and one second into the seventh
round at London’s O2 Arena.
Joshua was patient throughout the
opening round, frequently landing left jabs and the occasional hurtful
right, even showing a previously-unseen head movement to evade a
Breazeale counter.
In the second Joshua displayed greater
aggression. He punched through Breazeale’s high guard, and repeatedly
sought – and often successfully found – his opponent’s resistant head
with uppercuts, left hooks and straight rights. Significant swelling was
already appearing around Breazeale’s right eye.
What followed was a demonstration of
Joshua’s relish of combat. Breazeale’s impressive punch resistance
ensured he remained on his feet, and when he fought back and landed,
Joshua responded with greater malice.
His inexperience showed at one point
with punches that missed wildly, while Breazeale continued to absorb
heavy punishment in the rounds that followed, particularly a
perfectly-timed left hook midway through the fifth
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