Anthony Joshua retains titles after controversial 10th round stoppage of Carlos Takam

In his first fight since ending the career of the great and once-dominant Wladimir Klitschko, 28-year-old Joshua required his advantages in size, speed and power to gradually wear down his previously little-known opponent in the 10th round.

It was far from a straightforward night for Joshua in the Principality Stadium, however, as the 28-year-old appeared to suffer a broken nose in the second round after an accidental clash of heads with his shorter and lighter opponent.

Unbeaten champion Joshua opened up a dreadful cut above 36-year Takam's right eye in the fourth round and although the durable France-based Cameroonian battled on the fight was halted in Round 10 after a series of heavy blows, much to the displeasure of a raucous crowd

Bigger fights against superior opponents are expected to follow in 2018 - but in defeating his mandatory challenger and excluding that with Klitschko, the Briton unexpectedly faced the toughest match-up of his career.