Anthony Joshua vs Carlos Takam — Live

ANTHONY JOSHUA did not impress Deontay Wilder as he halted Carlos Takam in 10 rounds to defend his WBA and IBF world titles.

Joshua sized up his opponent early in the first round, dodging Takam’s jabs before advancing forward and landing a solid left hook on the Cameroonian.

The 36-year-old striker is yet to feature for United this season due to a knee injury but he has been working hard to return before the turn of the year.

The referee jumped in to intervene as the round ended.

Takam kept things awkward for the champion, bouncing around on his feet and keeping his upper body moving at all times.

“I thought I’d be more composed and patient”.

Takam had only taken the fight at short notice after Kubrat Pulev withdrew but Joshua found the short and squat Frenchman a stubborn customer.

There was concern, however, that he sustained a broken nose in a clash of heads and the corner worked to stem the bleeding at the end of the second. The scales had suddenly tipped into Joshua’s corner.

“I’ve seen too many sob stories at this stage of a fight for me to complain about that stoppage”. Takam proved everyone wrong, though, by lasting ten rounds with the all-conquering champion.

“I think he’s got a mindset where he’s got nothing to lose… that’s a dangerous mindset”, Joshua said.

“He [Joshua] will show courage until he runs out of gas, then it’s life and death for him [against me, ]” said Wilder, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist.

“There’s also a great heavyweight called Tyson Fury”.

All week Joshua has been a big draw in Cardiff. He came out for round 5 to his credit.

“He is not as good at boxing as I am at football… but he’s getting there”.

Instead of staying on the edges of the ring, Takam started to work more inside against Joshua, exposing himself to his opponent’s lethal power.

Can Carlos Takam stun Anthony Joshua tonight? The sooner it happens the better.

Takam said: “I want a rematch. They may throw in the towel”.

Well promoter Eddie Hearn wasted no time in dropping the three names that ‘AJ’ will meet in 2018.

“I’m wary of any fight”, Joshua said.