View source for Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam

{{Short description|Boxing competition}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name   = Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam
| image        = [[File:Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam.jpg|250px]]
| caption      =
| fight date   = 28 October 2017
| location     = [[Principality Stadium]], [[Cardiff]], Wales
| titles       = [[WBA (Super)]], [[IBF]], and [[International Boxing Organization|IBO]] [[heavyweight]] titles
| fighter1     = {{flagicon|GBR}} Anthony Joshua
| nickname1    = "AJ"
| hometown1    = [[Watford]], [[Hertfordshire]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| purse1       =
| record1      = 19–0 (19 KOs)
| age1         = {{age in years and months |1989|10|15 |2017|10|28}}
| height1      = 6 ft 6 in
| weight1      = 254 lbs
| style1       = Orthodox
| recognition1 = [[World Boxing Association|WBA (Super)]], [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] and [[International Boxing Organization|IBO]]<br>Heavyweight Champion<br>[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']]/[[Transnational Boxing Rankings Board|TBRB]]<br>No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
| fighter2     = {{flagicon|FRA}} Carlos Takam
| nickname2    =
| hometown2    = [[Douala]], [[Littoral Region (Cameroon)|Littoral]], Cameroon
| purse2       =
| record2      = 35–3–1 (27 KOs)
| age2         = {{age in years and months |1980|12|6 |2017|10|28}}
| height2      = 6 ft 1 in
| weight2      = 235 lb
| style2       = Orthodox
| recognition2 = [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]]<br>No. 2 Ranked Heavyweight<br>[[Transnational Boxing Rankings Board|TBRB]]<br>No. 6 Ranked Heavyweight
| result       = Joshua '''defeated''' Takam in the '''tenth-round''' by '''TKO'''
}}
'''Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam''' was a [[heavyweight]] [[professional boxing]] match contested between undefeated and unified [[WBA (Super)]], [[IBF]], and [[International Boxing Organization|IBO]] champion [[Anthony Joshua]], and the IBF's number 2 ranked contender, [[Carlos Takam]]. The bout took place on 28 October 2017 at the [[Principality Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]], Wales. Joshua defeated Takam, retaining his heavyweight titles via tenth-round [[technical knockout]] (TKO).
==Background==
Following Joshua's win over [[Wladimir Klitschko]] in April 2017, [[Unified champion|unifying]] the [[WBA (Super)]] and [[IBF]] titles and capturing the [[International Boxing Organization|IBO]], the IBF granted Joshua an exemption from fighting their [[mandatory challenger]], [[Kubrat Pulev]], in order to allow Joshua to fulfil a contractual rematch obligation with Klitschko.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/19564662/ibf-grants-anthony-joshua-exception-likely-rematch-wladimir-klitschko|title=Joshua given exception to mandatory defense|last=Parkinson|first=Nick|date=7 May 2017|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> After Klitschko announced his retirement on 3 August,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/40811881|title=Wladimir Klitschko retires and will not fight Anthony Joshua in rematch|date=3 August 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=6 April 2020|language=en-gb}}</ref> the IBF ordered Joshua to negotiate a deal with Pulev by 3 September.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/ibf-joshua-fight-pulev-next-reach-deal-by-september-3--119165|title=IBF: Joshua Must Fight Pulev Next, Must Reach Deal By 9/3|last=Reeno|first=Rick|date=4 August 2017|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> On 5 September, Joshua's promoter, [[Eddie Hearn]], officially announced Joshua vs. Pulev would take place on 28 October at the [[Principality Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]], Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/20584322/anthony-joshua-make-next-defense-vs-kubrat-pulev-oct-28-wales|title=Joshua to make next defense Oct. 28 vs. Pulev|last=Rafael|first=Dan|date=5 September 2017|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> Less than two weeks before the fight, rumours began to circulate that Pulev had suffered an injury, putting the fight in jeopardy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/pulev-reportedly-injured-anthony-joshua-fight-jeopardy--121490|title=Pulev Reportedly Injured, Anthony Joshua Fight in Jeopardy|last=Brown|first=Shaun|date=16 October 2017|website=BoxingScene.com|language=en-us|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> The rumours proved to be true, leading Hearn to announce that Takam had stepped in to replace Pulev with just 12 days notice. Hearn also revealed that during the initial negotiations with Pulev, he had also been negotiating with Takam to be held in reserve as a replacement in the event that Pulev pulled out.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/41646348|title=Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev: Injured Bulgarian is replaced by Carlos Takam|date=16 October 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=6 April 2020|language=en-gb}}</ref>
==The fight==
[[File:Joshua v Takem.JPG|thumb|right|Joshua and Takam in action]]
Round one saw little action, with Joshua taking the centre of the ring while Takam remained on the back foot. The second round saw Joshua increase his punch output following an accidental headbutt, causing blood to flow from Joshua's nose. After a slow third round, the action picked up in the fourth with both fighters increasing their punch output. Takam received a cut above his right eye from a left hook early in the round. In the final 20 seconds, Joshua landed a solid counter left hook which caused Takam to stumble and touch the canvas with his right glove, scoring a knockdown for Joshua. The champion began landing punches on Takam with more frequency in the fifth. A minute into the round, referee Phil Edwards called a halt to the action to allow the ringside doctor to examine the cut above Takam's right eye. After a brief examination, Edwards resumed the contest. Despite being cut above the left eye in the seventh, Takam was able to land a few punches on the champion. At the beginning of the ninth round, Edwards once again halted the action to allow the ringside doctor to examine the cuts above Takam's eyes. With the doctor deeming Takam fit to continue, Edwards resumed the contest. The end came in the tenth after Joshua landed several unanswered punches on Takam, prompting Edwards to call off the fight, with Joshua retaining his titles via [[technical knockout]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Kevin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/28/anthony-joshua-retains-heavyweight-crown-carlos-takam|title=Anthony Joshua made to work but retains crown against Carlos Takam|date=28 October 2017|work=The Observer|access-date=10 April 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref>
==Fight card==
Confirmed bouts:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/event/756911|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}</ref>
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 85%;"
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Weight Class
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |vs.
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Method
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Round
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Time
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Notes
|-
|[[Heavyweight]]
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Anthony Joshua]] (c)
|def.
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Carlos Takam]]
|TKO
|10/12
|{{small|1:34}}
|{{ref|Joshua vs. Takam|Note 1}}
|-
|[[Super-flyweight]]
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Khalid Yafai]] (c)
|def.
|{{flagicon|JPN}} Sho Ishida
|UD
|12
|
|{{ref|Yafai vs. Ishida|Note 2}}
|-
|[[Heavyweight]]
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Dillian Whyte]]
|def.
|{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Robert Helenius]]
|UD
|12
|
|{{ref|Whyte vs. Helenius|Note 3}}
|-
|[[Light-heavyweight]]
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Frank Buglioni]] (c)
|def.
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Craig Richards (boxer)|Craig Richards]]
|UD
|12
|
|{{ref|Buglioni vs. Richards|Note 4}}
|-
|[[Lightweight]]
|{{flagicon|IRE}} [[Katie Taylor]]
|def.
|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Anahí Ester Sánchez]]
|UD
|10
|
|{{ref|Taylor vs. Sanchez|Note 5}}
|-
|[[Cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]]
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Lawrence Okolie]]
|def.
|{{flagicon|UK}} Adam Williams
|TKO
|3/6
|{{small|2:28}}
|
|-
|[[Light-heavyweight]]
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joshua Buatsi]]
|def.
|{{flagicon|FRA}} Saidou Sall
|PTS
|6
|
|
|-
|[[Lightweight]]
|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Cordina]]
|def.
|{{flagicon|NIC}} Lester Cantillano
|PTS
|4
|
|
|}
<small>{{note|Joshua vs. Takam|Note 1|For [[List of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|WBA (Super)]], [[List of IBF world champions#Heavyweight|IBF]], and [[List of IBO world champions#Heavyweight|IBO heavyweight]] titles}}<br>{{note|Yafai vs. Ishida|Note 2|For [[List of WBA world champions#Super flyweight|WBA (Regular) super-flyweight title]]}}<br>{{note|Whyte vs. Helenius|Note 3|For vacant [[WBC Silver]] heavyweight title}}<br>{{note|Buglioni vs. Richards|Note 4|For [[List of British light-heavyweight boxing champions|British light-heavyweight title]]}}<br>{{note|Taylor vs. Sanchez|Note 5|For vacant [[List of WBA female world champions#Lightweight|WBA female lightweight title]]}}
</small>
==Broadcasting==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} ||  [[Sky Sports]]
|-
| {{flag|United States}} ||  [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko|vs. Wladimir Klitschko]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Anthony Joshua]]' bouts | years=28 October 2017}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker|vs. Joseph Parker]]}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Ivica Bacurin}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Carlos Takam]]'s bouts |years=28 October 2017}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Dereck Chisora vs. Carlos Takam|vs. Derek Chisora]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Anthony Joshua}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joshua, Takam}}
[[Category:2017 in boxing]]
[[Category:2017 in British sport]]
[[Category:2017 in Welsh sport]]
[[Category:Boxing in Wales]]
[[Category:October 2017 sports events in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2010s in Cardiff]]
[[Category:International sports competitions hosted by Wales]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Cardiff]]
[[Category:World Boxing Association heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:International Boxing Federation heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:International Boxing Organization heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:Pay-per-view boxing matches]]
[[Category:Boxing matches in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Boxing matches involving Anthony Joshua|Takam]]
[[Category:Boxing on Sky Sports]]
[[Category:Boxing on Showtime]]