Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Deontay Wilder in Round 7 to Claim WBC Heavyweight Title

Anthony Joshua reclaimed heavyweight supremacy tonight with a spectacular seventh-round knockout victory over Deontay Wilder to capture the WBC heavyweight championship at a sold-out Wembley Stadium in London. The British fighter, who had lost his previous two title fights, delivered a crushing uppercut that sent the former champion crashing to the canvas, unable to beat the referee's count in front of 94,000 screaming fans.

The fight began cautiously, with both heavyweights showing mutual respect for each other's knockout power. Wilder, the former WBC champion known for his devastating right hand, looked to establish his jab early while Joshua worked behind a tight defense and measured counter-attacks. The first three rounds were closely contested, with neither fighter able to establish clear dominance despite several heated exchanges that had the Wembley crowd on their feet.

Joshua began to take control in the fourth round, using his superior boxing skills and improved conditioning to outwork the Alabama native. The Brit's consistent body shots and disciplined approach began to wear down Wilder, who appeared to fade slightly as the fight progressed into the middle rounds. Joshua's corner, led by trainer Robert Garcia, urged their fighter to stay patient and wait for the right moment to unleash his power.

The dramatic finish came in the seventh round when Joshua trapped Wilder against the ropes and unleashed a perfectly timed uppercut that caught the American flush on the chin. Wilder collapsed immediately, his legs buckling as he fell face-first to the canvas. Referee Marcus McDonnell began his count as Joshua retreated to a neutral corner, pumping his fists as the capacity crowd erupted in celebration. Wilder struggled to regain his footing but was unable to beat the ten-count, officially ending the contest at 2:47 of round seven.

"This is what I've worked my whole life for," an emotional Joshua said during his post-fight interview. "To win a world title at Wembley, in front of my home crowd, against a legend like Deontay—it doesn't get better than this. I knew if I stayed disciplined and stuck to the game plan, the opportunity would come, and I was ready when it did." The victory marks Joshua's third world heavyweight title, adding the WBC belt to his previous reigns as IBF, WBA, and WBO champion.

Wilder, gracious in defeat, praised Joshua's performance while acknowledging the end of an era in his own career. "Anthony was the better man tonight," the 40-year-old former champion said. "That was a beautiful punch, and I have no excuses. I've had an incredible career, but it's time to seriously consider my future in this sport." The knockout victory immediately establishes Joshua as the heavyweight division's premier attraction and sets up potential unification bouts against IBF champion Daniel Dubois and WBO titleholder Joe Joyce. With three of the four major heavyweight belts now in British hands, the stage is set for an all-UK unification tournament that could crown an undisputed champion by year's end.