Anthony Joshua needed only two rounds to knockout Francis Ngannou and deliver the most powerful statement to the heavyweight division.
Joshua floored the UFC champion in the first round and early in the second.
Still dazed, Ngannou rose to his feet in Riyadh but was stunned by an explosive right moments prompting the referee to stop the fight
The 37-year-old appeared to be out before he even hit the canvas and required medical treatment.
“I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again,” Joshua said, as WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury watched on from ringside
Fury made tough work of Ngannou in October when he was dropped by the debutant before edging a points win.
“When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury I thought ‘I want some of that’. [Ngannou] is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities,” said Joshua.
“I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he’s fought the best.”
Victory isJoshua’s fourth in 11 months, and keeps alive his ambition of recapturing a world title.
Promoter Eddie Hearn called for Joshua, who he has promoted throughout the heavyweight’s pro career, to face the winner of Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
The pair will fight to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion in May, with a rematch later in the year.
