The 23-year-old from Watford, making his first appearance in the professional ranks after his London 2012 gold medal winning performance against Italy's defending Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle last year, cut an impressive specimen against his more rotund opponent, after a dropping a stone since his triumph last year.

The Italian, who came into the bout undefeated in eight outings, was still giving away a significant height and weight advantage to the 6ft 7in, 17 stone Joshua, and in truth, looked like a fish out of water from the first bell.

Joshua, under the watchful eye of trainer Tony Sims, barely gave the punters at London's O2 time to settle into their seats before he unleashed a volley of quick-fire shots to immediately put his 32-year-old opponent on the back-foot, and despite being caught by two decent left hooks, he hit back with two straight right hands and a right hook to send Cammarelle crashing to the floor after 2min 47sec.

It was as clear as the inevitable hype that will surround Joshua's maiden win, that the big Italian was not getting back up and he required oxygen at ringside once the referee had called a halt to the fight.

Olympic champion Anthony Joshua looked impressive on his professional debut against Italian Emanuele Leo in London