Anthony Joshua was unexpectedly taken to the tenth round before stopping Carlos Takam and retaining his WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles on Saturday night, in front of a world record indoor fight crowd of an estimated 76,000 under the roof at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The referee, Phil Edwards, stopped the fight after Joshua caught Takam with a hook-uppercut combination and was moving in to land more blows.
The France-based Cameroonian, who was fighting at 12 days' notice as an injury replacement for Kubrat Pulev, was left bitterly disappointed by the decision, which was loudly booed by the Welsh fans. But in reality it was a fair stoppage, with Takam bloodied and sustaining heavy damage.
“Takam, it was a pleasure. I come to fight, I don't sit on the edge and make decisions,” Joshua commented after the contest, as the crowd continued to jeer the decision. “It was a good fight until the ref stopped it, so I have the utmost respect for Takam.
“I have no interest in what is going on with the officials, that's not my job. I think people want to see Takam unconscious on the floor, and that's what I was trying to get to.”
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BOXING: Joshua stops Takam by TKO to defend heavyweight titles
The referee, Phil Edwards, stopped the fight after Joshua caught Takam with a hook-uppercut combination and was moving in to land more blows.
The France-based Cameroonian, who was fighting at 12 days' notice as an injury replacement for Kubrat Pulev, was left bitterly disappointed by the decision, which was loudly booed by the Welsh fans. But in reality it was a fair stoppage, with Takam bloodied and sustaining heavy damage.
“Takam, it was a pleasure. I come to fight, I don't sit on the edge and make decisions,” Joshua commented after the contest, as the crowd continued to jeer the decision. “It was a good fight until the ref stopped it, so I have the utmost respect for Takam.
“I have no interest in what is going on with the officials, that's not my job. I think people want to see Takam unconscious on the floor, and that's what I was trying to get to.”
READ MORE
BOXING: Joshua stops Takam by TKO to defend heavyweight titles
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