Anthony Joshua’s 5 Best Career Knockouts As He Aims to KO Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia

• Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will duke it out on March 8 in Saudi Arabia
• This bout will be the former UFC heavyweight champion's second boxing match
• Both African boxers are aiming for a knockout in their 10-round exhibition fight

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou are talking tough ahead of their exhibition boxing match scheduled for March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Both African superstars are aiming for a knockout, although it is only the second professional boxing fight of the former UFC Heavyweight champion's career after impressing in his first fight against Tyson Fury.

"I believe I can knock [Ngannou] out. Definitely. I would love to knock him out and make a statement," Joshua told Sky Sports.

AJ has achieved 24 of his 27 wins via knockouts, including his last against Otto Wallin in December.

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Boxing

Sports Brief looks at the top five knockouts of his career via Black Sports Online.

Top 5 knockouts of AJ's career

1. Wladimir Klitschko

The boxing legend took Joshua to the 11th round, but like many other opponents, the Ukrainian was saved by the referee, who stopped the fight after a relentless chase down and powerful combination. The 47-year-old retired professional months later.

2. Dillian Whyte

The highly anticipated bout between the two took place at the O2 Arena in London. The match lived up to the animosity, and it was the Nigerian who won the British heavyweight belt after a vicious right hand that nearly sent Whyte out of the ring. A rematch was cancelled last year after Whyte returned a positive drug test.

3. Alexander Povetkin

It was another seventh-round knockout for AJ on British soil. Russian boxer, Alexander Povetkin, presented a challenge to the British-Nigerian. He was knocked down in the seventh round but managed to get up before he was finished off quickly after.

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4. Charles Martin

Per Talksport, it was Joshua's 16th fight and first-ever world title triumph, winning the IBF title after flooring champion Charles Martin. The American entered the ring wearing a crown but was 'dethroned' in the second round via a knockout.

5. Kubrat Pulev

Joshua had dropped two abysmal performances against Andy Ruiz Jr, winning one and losing the other before facing Kubrat Pulev. He knocked the Russian unconscious after nine rounds. He lost two fights to Oleksandr Usyk afterwards.

Joshua omitted himself from GOAT list

Sports Brief also previously reported on Joshua omitting himself from the GOATs list after ranking boxers across eras in categories ranging from greatest to sparring partner.

He considers himself on the same level as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk but does not see himself in the ranks of Muhammad Ali, Klitschko, and others boxing legends.