At The O2 Arena in London, Anthony Joshua delivered a merciless lesson in heavyweight dominance, stopping the previously unbeaten Dominic Breazeale in the seventh round to retain his IBF crown. The bout, filled with tense exchanges and explosive power, marked Joshua’s first title defence since seizing the belt from Charles Martin just two months earlier.

The Californian challenger entered the ring with a spotless 17-0 record and a size advantage, but he quickly found himself drowning in deep waters against the Olympic gold medallist. After a cautious opening round, Joshua found his rhythm in the second, unleashing a storm of precise, concussive punches that had Breazeale wobbling and retreating.

Breazeale’s right eye began to swell alarmingly by round three, as Joshua’s jab turned into a battering ram. The Brit controlled the pace with clinical accuracy, rattling off combinations that snapped the American’s head back with increasing regularity.

Though Breazeale showed heart, standing toe-to-toe and swinging in defiance, he lacked the defensive tools to handle Joshua’s relentless offense. By the middle rounds, Breazeale’s offense sputtered while his face told the story of the punishment endured. A brief rally in the fifth from the challenger was met with another fierce left hook that left him reeling once more.

The sixth round offered a brief glimmer of resistance, with Breazeale landing enough to bloody Joshua’s nose — a small moral victory that didn’t shift the momentum. It was in the seventh that the champion closed the show with calculated brutality. With Breazeale backed into the ropes, Joshua unleashed a thunderous barrage that sent the American to the canvas. Although Breazeale courageously rose, another flurry moments later ended the contest at 1:01 into the round.

At the time of the stoppage, Joshua was ahead on all three scorecards with a commanding 60–54 lead, having won every round with authority. This victory not only preserved Joshua’s perfect knockout streak — now 17-0 with 17 KOs — but also cemented his status as one of the most feared punchers in the division.