Anthony Joshua retained his two heavyweight title belts last night but this was a far from convincing performance, with many in the Principality Stadium feeling referee Phil Edwards had acted prematurely in stopping obdurate opponent Carlos Takam in the tenth round.
Joshua had thrown everything at the super-sub with the tank-like physique and granite chin, but he was beginning to tire when Edwards stepped in to bring the fight to a close, much to Takam’s fury. At the end of it all the young man who is fast becoming a superstar now has a record which reads: 20 fights, 20 stoppages. Yet this was far from perfect, and the 28-year-old took great risks at times, exposing himself to counter punches which could cost the Briton in fights against the likes of WBC champion Deontay Wilder. He will know he has much to work on.
There were mitigating circumstances as Joshua had his nose broken in the second round by Takam’s forehead, although he had recovered sufficiently by the fourth to ensure his French-Cameroonian opponent had to take a standing count after being knocked down by a left hook. The punch opened a nasty cut above Takam’s right eye, and he was twice inspected by the ringside physician before it was all over. When it was finished, Joshua addressed the 80,000 crowd, looking forward while paying due respect to his opponent.
Source: Telegraph.com
