Anthony Joshua added another knockout to his growing legacy with a gritty tenth-round TKO victory over the iron-jawed Carlos Takam at the packed Principality Stadium. With over 70,000 fans in attendance, the unbeaten British heavyweight extended his perfect knockout streak to 20, but not without weathering a storm of adversity.

Originally slated to face IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, Joshua was thrown a curveball just 12 days before the bout when Pulev withdrew due to a shoulder injury. In stepped the IBF’s No. 3 ranked contender, Carlos Takam—a rugged veteran with nothing to lose and a granite chin to prove it.

Joshua, defending his WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO titles, started cautiously, establishing control with a stiff jab and calculated movement. But the tone of the fight shifted in the second round when a violent head clash left Joshua with a bleeding nose, an early sign that this wouldn’t be another routine demolition.

Despite the injury, Joshua maintained his composure and began to find his rhythm in the fourth round. A slicing hook opened a nasty gash above Takam’s right eye, and moments later, a crisp counter left sent the challenger’s glove to the canvas, scoring the first knockdown of the fight.

Takam, 36 and clearly well-prepared despite the short notice, displayed remarkable heart. Though bloodied and blinking through a crimson mask, he absorbed punishment and even managed to tag the champion with sneaky counters. The ringside doctor checked his cuts multiple times, but the durable Cameroonian-French fighter soldiered on.

As the rounds wore on, Joshua increased the tempo, unloading uppercuts and body shots that echoed across the stadium. Takam’s resistance finally waned in the tenth when Joshua uncorked a brutal combination, prompting referee Phil Edwards to call a halt to the action. The stoppage was met with some debate, but it was a necessary end to a battle that tested Joshua’s grit more than his power.

With the win, Joshua not only retained his belts but also moved one step closer to unifying the heavyweight division. In surviving a late replacement and a broken nose, he proved that champions aren’t made solely by power—but also by perseverance.