Britain’s Anthony Joshua put on a devastating display to retain his IBF heavyweight crown with a seventh round knock-out of American Dominic Breazeale at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night.

Unbeaten Joshua dominated from the start but the 30-year-old Breazeale proved a courageous opponent, absorbing some thunderous blows throughout from the 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight champion before succumbing to Joshua’s power.

There were signs that Joshua was beginning to get frustrated in the sixth round of his first title defence but he began the seventh with a tremendous barrage of blows that sent his opponent to the canvas.

Breazeale, also unbeaten prior to the bout, managed to continue but was floored again by a left and the referee waved an end to the contest without counting.

Joshua took his record to 17-0, all by knock-out or stoppage, and his classy display offered more evidence to support the belief that the muscular 26-year-old could eventually unify the division.

“When you start catching them flush, you know they can feel the shots, and so he was tough,” Joshua, who won the title by beating Charles Martin in his previous fight, told reporters.

“But this has been tough for me, as two weeks after my last fight I was straight back into the ring. So now I look forward to getting my break. I need some time off.”