Anthony Joshua knocks out Kubrat Pulev and remains on course to face Tyson Fury

Joshua had his opponent down twice in the third round but Pulev proved nothing if not tough, and through the middle rounds began to turn the fight into the sort of close-range brawl which gave him a puncher's chance.

But Joshua got back on the front foot from the midway point and two sustained attacks had Pulev down in the ninth, the second of them enough to finally end his resistance, as had been predicted by our boxing expert in his betting preview.

"It's a fight - less talk, more action," said Joshua. "I hope everyone was satisfied tonight.

"I stuck to what I know best, boxing. When they're successful, they're successful. Like I said, it's less talk, more action.

"I don't even want to do an interview. I just want the fans to appreciate the hard work, everyone to go home and have a lovely Christmas, and we'll reunite in 2021."

Pushed to look to the future, Joshua added: "It's not about the opponent, it's about the legacy and the belt. Whoever's got the belt, I'd love to compete with them. If that is Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury."

It meant Joshua retained his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts and more importantly stays on track for a twin-fight with Fury in 2021.

Promoter Eddie Hearn promised as much, saying: "We know what we have to do, starting from tomorrow: make the Tyson Fury fight straight away.

"It's the only fight to be made in boxing, it's the biggest fight in boxing, it's the biggest fight in British boxing history.

"I know (Joshua) wants it. He's the best heavyweight in the world, I promise you."

A ‘Battle of Britain’ could sell out across the continent and plans for it to be hosted at Wembley will depend on how many fans are able to attend, with only 1,000 spectators inside the SSE Arena due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Fury posted a video to Twitter stating: "I want the fight, I want the fight next," also adding that he'd knock Joshua out in the third round.

Pulev had talked the talk in the build-up to this fight and insisted he had been waiting for a second chance at Joshua after he was forced to pull out of a 2017 meeting due to a shoulder injury.

But after putting the challenger down twice in the third, Joshua did the same again in the ninth and the final knockout blow proved too much for the 39-year-old to come back from.