Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam

Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam was a heavyweight professional boxing match contested between undefeated and unified WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO champion Anthony Joshua, and the IBF's number three ranked contender, Carlos Takam. The bout took place on 28 October 2017 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Joshua defeated Takam, retaining his heavyweight titles via tenth-round technical knockout (TKO).

Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam
Date28 October 2017
VenuePrincipality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Title(s) on the lineWBA (Super), IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Anthony Joshua Carlos Takam
Nickname AJ
Hometown Watford, Hertfordshire, England Douala, Cameroon
Pre-fight record 19–0 (19 KOs) 35–3–1 (27 KOs)
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 254 lb (115 kg) 235 lb (107 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO heavyweight champion IBF No. 3 ranked heavyweight
Result
Joshua defeated Takam in the tenth-round by TKO

Background

Following Joshua's win over Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017, unifying the WBA (Super) and IBF titles and capturing the IBO, the IBF granted Joshua an exemption from fighting their mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev, in order to allow Joshua to fulfil a contractual rematch obligation with Klitschko.[1] After Klitschko announced his retirement on 3 August,[2] the IBF ordered Joshua to negotiate a deal with Pulev by 3 September.[3] On 5 September, Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, officially announced Joshua vs. Pulev would take place on 28 October at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.[4] Less than two weeks before the fight, rumours began to circulate that Pulev had suffered an injury, putting the fight in jeopardy.[5] The rumours proved to be true, leading Hearn to announce that Takam had stepped in to replace Pulev with just 12 days notice. Hearn also revealed that during the initial negotiations with Pulev, he had also been negotiating with Takam to be held in reserve as a replacement in the event that Pulev pulled out.[6]

The Fight

Round one saw little action, with Joshua taking the centre of the ring while Takam remained on the back foot. The second round saw Joshua increase his punch output following an accidental headbutt, causing blood to flow from Joshua's nose. After a slow third round, the action picked up in the fourth with both fighters increasing their punch output. Takam received a cut above his right eye from a left hook early in the round. In the final 20 seconds, Joshua landed a solid counter left hook which caused Takam to stumble and touch the canvas with his right glove, scoring a knockdown for Joshua. The champion began landing punches on Takam with more frequency in the fifth. A minute into the round, referee Phil Edwards called a halt to the action to allow the ringside doctor to examine the cut above Takam's right eye. After a brief examination, Edwards resumed the contest. Despite being cut above the left eye in the seventh, Takam was able to land a few punches on the champion. At the beginning of the ninth round, Edwards once again halted the action to allow the ringside doctor to examine the cuts above Takam's eyes. With the doctor deeming Takam fit to continue, Edwards resumed the contest. The end came in the tenth after Joshua landed several unanswered punches on Takam, prompting Edwards to call off the fight, with Joshua retaining his titles via technical knockout.[7]

Fight card
Weight Class vs. Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Anthony Joshua (c) def. Carlos Takam TKO 10/12 1:34 Note 1
Super-flyweight Khalid Yafai (c) def. Sho Ishida UD 12 Note 2
Heavyweight Dillian Whyte def. Robert Helenius UD 12 Note 3
Light-heavyweight Frank Buglioni (c) def. Craig Richards UD 12 Note 4
Lightweight Katie Taylor def. Anahi Ester Sanchez UD 10 Note 5
Cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie def. Adam Williams TKO 3/6 2:28
Light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi def. Saidou Sall PTS 6
Lightweight Joe Cordina def. Lester Cantillano PTS 4

^Note 1 For WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles
^Note 2 For WBA (Regular) super-flyweight title
^Note 3 For vacant WBC Silver heavyweight title
^Note 4 For British light-heavyweight title
^Note 5 For vacant WBA female lightweight title

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See also

References
  1. Parkinson, Nick (7 May 2017). "Joshua given exception to mandatory defense". ESPN.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  2. "Wladimir Klitschko retires and will not fight Anthony Joshua in rematch". BBC Sport. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  3. Reeno, Rick (4 August 2017). "IBF: Joshua Must Fight Pulev Next, Must Reach Deal By 9/3". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  4. Rafael, Dan (5 September 2017). "Joshua to make next defense Oct. 28 vs. Pulev". ESPN.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  5. Brown, Shaun (16 October 2017). "Pulev Reportedly Injured, Anthony Joshua Fight in Jeopardy". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  6. "Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev: Injured Bulgarian is replaced by Carlos Takam". BBC Sport. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  7. Mitchell, Kevin (28 October 2017). "Anthony Joshua made to work but retains crown against Carlos Takam". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
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