Anthony Joshua stops Denis Bakhtov in the second round of their O2 Arena fight

Anthony Joshua has claimed the WBC International heavyweight title after a second-round stoppage of Denis Bakhtov at the O2 Arena.

    Anthony Joshua defeated Denis Bakhtov in impressive fashion

The 24-year-old Brit is one of the most exciting prospects in the world of boxing and he enhanced his reputation with an extremely impressive display.

Joshua, who won Olympic gold at London 2012, has now won all nine of his professional fights and none of his opponents have lasted more than three rounds.

The experienced Bakhtov was expected to provide a sterner test than Joshua had faced to date but he simply could not cope with the younger man, who was in total control throughout.

Joshua looked like he might win in the first round at one point as Bakhtov found himself backed up against the ropes and on the receiving end of a sustained barrage of punches.

The Russian bravely survived but required treatment at the interval between rounds as a nasty cut had opened above his left eye.

Joshua attacked again as soon as the second round began and it became clear the end of the fight was inevitable, although Bakhtov showed incredible heart to remain on his feet.

The referee allowed the fight to continue after it initially looked like he had to stop the bout but he was forced to step in again, this time for good, just seconds later, as Joshua unleashed another relentless series of blows.

The straight right did all the damage but the spitefiulness that had him smiling with enjoyment as he finished Bakhtov off, was perhaps something we hadn't seen before.

Joshua's victory came just a minute into the second round and it was the first time the 34-year-old Bakhtov had been stopped legitimately in nine years.
 

Source:  www1.skysports.com/news/12183/9513926/anthony-joshua-stops-denis-bakhtov-in-the-second-round-of-their-o2-arena-fight

Anthony Joshua beats Denis Bakhtov to claim vacant WBC heavyweight belt

• Olympic gold medallist impresses in second-round victory
• Durable Russian stopped for the first time since 2005

Press Associationt   heguardian.com

 

 

The heavyweight Anthony Joshua, left, made short work of Denis Bakhtov to claim the vacant WBC belt. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

Anthony Joshua made light work of the veteran fighter Denis Bakhtov in their WBC international heavyweight title fight, the referee stopping the contest early in the second round.

The 24-year-old from Watford, a gold medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games, ruthlessly punished his Russian opponent until, one minute into round two, he was granted a TKO by Ian John-Lewis.

Bakhtov, 34, had not been stopped legitimately in nine years heading into the fight at London’s O2 Arena, but his face was reddened within seconds of the start of Saturday night’s bout and he took some fearful punishment before his night was over.

Joshua told Sky Sports 1: “It only went two rounds but I just wanted to hurt him. He hadn’t been stopped so I just wanted to see what he could take.

“He was a strong guy and he wasn’t an easy opponent but I wanted to make light work of him.”

Source:  www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/12/anthony-joshua-denis-bakhtov-report