Anthony Joshua has never backed down from anything, and certainly wasn't about to after challenger Kubrat Pulev pulled out of their fight at a late stage and was replaced by Carlos Takam.
AJ, whose record speaks for itself, was excited by the different challenge the late change brought, saying: "I've known about Carlos Takam for a long time; he's a very, very well-rounded fighter. He was moving his way up the IVF rankings, so I've always had my eye on him anyway.
"I think Eddie did a great job in the sense of having someone in place, in case these type of mishaps happen, but when I heard I was fighting Takam, I thought: 'Of all people, this guy from Africa, very strong, game fighter.'
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"I think he had one shot at a world title, and some people don't make the same mistakes twice. I'm watching him carefully because I think what I see on these videos, he'll come 20 percent, 30 percent more game, because this is his chance to kind of shock the world."
But now the time for talk is over, as the fight is underway.
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Round 1: They touch gloves, of course. Two great blokes. They can't wait for post-fight cups of tea.
Takam happy to sit on the back foot as AJ comes forward. The Brit, as per, looks calm and collected.
Not much happened then, just feeling each other out. Throw a hell in a cell down to liven it up a bit, I reckon.
Round 2: Takam accidentally headbutts AJ, but they touch gloves and resume the fight. The champ looks to be bleeding.
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Looks as if it's ignited a fire inside him, as he's throwing hard jabs and hooks.
Takam now has a target, as he jabs at AJ's bleeding nose following the clash of heads.
Round 3: It's a suspected broke nose for Joshua, as the replays look really nasty. Big round for Takam coming up.
After the previous round AJ's corner has clearly told him to calm down after he stepped on the gas.
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Really looking like it's going to be an uphill battle for Joshua, but he doesn't seem phased. In fact, he might like it. The sick freak.
Round 4: Shaping up to be a very interesting fight this, as they're both swinging and landing.
Joshua lands a left hook, but Takam's chin is clearly made of steel. His eye is fucked.
AJ gets his nose broke, so decides to inflict more damage on Takam. Is he human?
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HOW THE FUCK DID HE LAST THERE? Takam can barely see because of a huge cut, Joshua sends him down to the mat but he's back up and finished the remaining seconds in the round.
Round 5: As good as over, this, as Takam's corner seem reluctant to send him back out.
Ref calls time and the doctor has a look at the cut, it doesn't look like it'll go on much longer here.
Joshua is firmly in control, all he needs is one very clean punch and it's over.
Is Takam fucking real, or what? He somehow manages to last another round, but his corner are still worried about the cut by his eye.
Round 6: As time ticks on, what's going to be worse, AJ's nose, or Takam's eye?
Every time the Brit lands a punch Takam seems to not give a shit at all, saying that though, one uppercut seems to have fucked him.
Seems to be a lot of respect between the two, but fuck me does the French-Cameroonian deserve his plaudits. This, on 12 days notice, is phenomenal.
Round 7: Right, I need a piss here, lads, let's speed this up?
Both eyes cut for Takam and he's still going. Did he have cocaine on his Cornflakes this morning?
Oh shit, is Takam on the comeback here? Lands a few and AJ looks a bit staggered.
Ah, Joshua comes back and brings it all back down to Earth.
Nah, not being funny, and I know I've said it about seven times here, but what is Takam's chin made of? Regardless of points, he's doing himself proud.
Round 8: Right, seriously, I'm about to piss myself.
A quick stop to re-tape AJ's glove. Nothing exciting as of yet this round.
Joshua lands what looks like a punch that'd destroy the Death Star and Takam beckons him to bring more. Is he taking the piss?
Round 9: Just opened another drink - bit of wee dribbled out. Doctor having another look at Takam's eye, could be a piss drink on the cards here.
Nah, we're underway again.
Joshua has won every round so far, so you kind of get the feeling had he not received a Glaswegian Kiss early on he might have done a Superman Punch by now, just to take the piss.
Takam gets a bit of second wind, landing a few punches, but yet again AJ replies with his own.
The young Brit on the ropes? Not something we see often, but he throws a mammoth right and he's off them.
Round 10: Legs are crossed, trying to relieve the pain of holding in this piss.
Takam comes out at start of the round on the front foot, somewhat surprising AJ.
IT'S ALL OVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
AND I'VE PISSED MYSELFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.
Anthony Joshua's power just too much for Takam, but the stoppage seems a little harsh. A monumental uppercut from the Brit sent the challenger reeling, and the ref, given the punishment already inflicted and the fact Takam had no chance of winning, called the end.
A lot of people seem pissed off by the stoppage, given that Takam was still standing, however it seems he had his health in his interests.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: SPORT, AJ, Anthony Joshua, Boxing