Joshua makes it two out of two with dominant second-round win over Butlin

By Mike Dawes   -   dailymail.co.uk

Olympic super-heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua continued his professional apprenticeship with a destructive second-round stoppage win over journeyman Paul Butlin.

The Londoner beat Emanuele Leo comfortably with a first-round stoppage earlier this month and was obviously expected to make it two wins from two against Melton Mowbray's Butlin.

Victorious: Anthony Joshua celebrates his win over Paul Butlin in Sheffield

Next up: Joshua heads to York Hall next and will top the bill on November 14

He did that in style, dominating the first round before forcing the technical knockout by putting Butlin down in the second and prompting the referee to end it.

Butlin's record of 14 wins and 19 defeats showed he was no serious threat but he did represent a decent test of Joshua's credentials at this early stage of his career.

Joshua, in superb shape, dictated matters from the first bell, pumping out his powerful jab.

Going down: Blood pours from Paul Butlin's eyes in the second round

As the opening round wore on he unloading a wider variety of shots to head and body, blasting in the right hand and firing hooks and hurtful uppercuts.

Butlin tried closing the distance down but was punished almost at will by the big rookie.

Joshua stepped things up emphatically in the second and the round was less than a minute old when the end came.

An audibly thudding left-right combination sent Butlin crashing to the canvas, his left eyebrow badly bloodied and his senses scrambled.

Performance: Joshua has now won two out of two at professional level

Here's your winner: Joshua is led away with Butlin on the floor just 30 seconds into the second round

To his credit, Butlin got to his feet unsteadily but when Joshua took his time and continued the assault - landing a lovely left to the body - the Leicestershire man's corner threw the towel in as referee Howard Foster waved it off.

'When you go in there you think there are a few things you could do better but I'm still improving and still learning.

'The key is to relax and box and move, wait for openings.

'I've got a few weeks to work on a few things before I fight again.'

Source:  www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2477682/Anthony-Joshua-beat-Paul-Butlin-second-round-technical-knockout.html