Anthony Joshua successfully defended his WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles by stopping Carlos Takam in the 10th round at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday night.

The 28-year-old Londoner's stunning professional record moved to 20-0 as a professional and extended his knockout streak to 20.

The referee's decision to intervene was considered controversial and boos rang out through the 80,000 seater stadium.

The France-based Cameroonian, who was fighting at 12 days' notice as an injury replacement for Kubrat Pulev, was furious after Phil Edwards stopped the fight.

Takam, who had blood pouring into his eye from a deep cut, unexpectedly took Joshua to the 10th round with a valiant display.

“Takam, it was a pleasure. I come to fight, I don't sit on the edge and make decisions,” Joshua said after the contest, as the crowd continued to jeer the decision. “It was a good fight until the ref stopped it, so I have the utmost respect for Takam.

“I have no interest in what is going on with the officials, that's not my job. I think people want to see Takam unconscious on the floor, and that's what I was trying to get to.”

Speaking after the bout, promoter Eddie Hearn named the three fighters Joshua is hoping to fight in 2018.

“AJ's told me he wants the belts,” Hearn said. “Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua has to happen.

“There's also a great heavyweight called Tyson Fury. Anthony Joshua will give you the fights you want. Wilder, Fury, Joseph Parker - they're the 2018 fights.

Joseph Parker responds

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker was far from impressed by Joshua's performance in Cardiff on Saturday night.

Parker (24-0, 18 KOs) had previously won a tough twelve round unanimous decision over Takam in May 2016.

"The more I watch him the more I want to fight him," Parker told the New Zealand Herald. "I've wanted to for ages but we're waiting for them to give us a good offer. The more I see of him the more I think 'damn, if I fought this guy I'd knock him out'."

"It looked like Joshua was struggling a bit trying to KO him. I fought Takam and afterwards Joshua said 'if I had have fought him I would have knocked him out'. He couldn't knock him out and I think it was an early stoppage. On 12 days' notice [Takam] was very impressive - imagine if he'd had a full camp?"

"I've said it many times. I'd love to fight Joshua so I can show what I've got. He's good - he's big, strong and learning, but I think he's just average, he's robotic. The jab he was throwing was very slow. He steps up all the time but I don't think he looked that impressive today. There wasn't a lot of movement. He stood on the spot or tried to chase Takam down and catch him with big shots."