Last night, at the 02 Arena, in London, Anthony Joshua ripped the IBF heavyweight crown off of Prince Charles Martin to become the champion of the world.
Joshua, in only his 16th professional fight saw off the champion in sensational style stopping the unbeaten fighter in round two.
With the undercard having been completed the atmosphere inside the O2 Arena reached a crescendo as the challenger made his ring walk, the 20,000 inside the O2 left nobody in any doubt as to whom they were backing.
Prince Charles Martin made a more dignified entrance bedecked in a crown and cape, striding towards the ring with just a smattering of booing in the air.
Once the obligatory introductions had been read by Michael Buffer, the two camps exited the ring to leave the two protagonists and the referee in the ring.
The sound of the first bell saw both fighters cagily stalk each other, Joshua looked the more active but his punches, for the first half of the round, were falling short.
But, as the second half of the round started Joshua caught Martin with a couple of right-hands that seem to trouble the champion.
Returning to the corner both boxers would have been aware of the fact that the noise inside the arena was incredible
The bell sounded for round two and Joshua was up on his feet looking for his opponent. Any concerns about facing a south-paw for the first time looked to be misplaced as Joshua boxed to perfection, getting close in and unloading a jab and getting out before Martin could respond.
A left hook stopped Martin in his tracks and the following right-hook stuck Martin on the seat of his pants on the canvas
The O2 Arena erupted, was Joshua on the verge of becoming the IBF heavyweight champion of the world?
He most certainly was, Joshua wasn?t prepared to let the stunned Martin recover his senses and another assault was launched
Another huge right-hand put Martin on the canvas again and the Belgian referee, Jean-Pierre van Imschoot had no option other than to stop the fight counting Martin out after only one minute and thirty two seconds of round two.
The O2 Arena erupted; Anthony Joshua had become the IBF heavyweight champion of the world.
Congratulations AJ from al at Vital Boxing and long may you reign as the heavyweight champion of the world.
Joshua Becomes the IBF Heavyweight Champion
