Joshua plugs ref on debut

Anthony Joshua saw disaster flash before his eyes before ending an explosive professional debut in the first round at The O2 in London.

The Olympic super-heavyweight champion blasted out brave Italian Emanuele Leo in just two minutes and 47 seconds with two successive right hands delivered amid a barrage of punches.

At the round’s halfway mark he flirted with catastrophe, however, by accidentally cuffing referee Ian John-Lewis with the inside of his forearm. John-Lewis was struck on the mouth and nose as he separated the fighters. Had the attempted left hook connected cleanly, it would have been a headline-grabbing debut for wrong reasons

“I was aware of what happened. When there are two blokes fighting you’re in the mode,” Joshua said.

“I thought Leo was going to hit me and it’s protect yourself at all times. As soon as I saw him flinch I thought ’I’ve got to get to him first’, but the referee was there! I thought ’if I hit the wrong person, that isn’t what I want to do!’.”