Anthony Joshua vs Gary Cornish: Olympic champion takes just 97 seconds to claim Commonwealth heavyweight title

Home favourite could now face unbeaten Dillian Whyte in his next fight

Anthony Joshua, left, knocks down Gary Cornish in the first round of their Commonwealth Heavyweight title bout at the O2 Arena, London. The match was stopped after only one minute and 37 seconds (PA)

Anthony Joshua needed just 97 seconds to knock out Gary Cornish and claim the Commonwealth heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old dumped Cornish to the canvas twice to earn an emphatic victory and stretch his unbeaten record as a professional to 14 fights.

Cornish had gone into the fight with a 21-fight unbeaten record and high hopes of becoming the first man to defeat the Olympic super-heavyweight champion.

But while the Inverness man showed plenty of intent to attack from the opening bell his admirable ambition simply played into Joshua's hands.

The home favourite dumped Cornish to the canvas for the first time with a short right hand from which the underdog did well to rise to his feet.

It was all over moments later as Joshua stepped in with a short left to leave Cornish on his knees and Joshua earning the first significant title of his career after just over a minute and a half of work.

Joshua could next face fellow Londoner Dillian Whyte who extended his own unbeaten record to 16 fights with a third-round stoppage of Brian Minto on the undercard.

PA