ZUFFA BOXING continues to make splashes in the sport with the acquisition of Mihai Nistor, the only man to knock Anthony Joshua out in the amateurs.

The Romanian heavyweight enjoyed a fruitful amateur career that included seven national titles and two European bronze medals and he is going from strength to strength in the pro ranks.

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Mihai Nistor sent Anthony Joshua flying with a left hookCredit: X
 
But Joshua’s professional career is far, far superior to his former amateur peerCredit: The Sun
Sitting at 8-0, the 35-year-old only had his first professional fight at the end of 2019.

But back in 2011 at the European Championships, he became the first man to stop Joshua in the sport.

Nistor did so en route to his first European medal in Turkish capital of Ankara.

It was only AJ’s second defeat as an amateur following an early setback against Dillian Whyte in 2009, but it was to be the only loss inside the distance in his vested career.

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In the third round, Nistor caught Joshua with a massive left hook that buckled the now-two-time former heavyweight champion’s knees.

AJ was held up by ropes and avoided a true tumble. But after initially giving the Brit a count, the referee would decide to wave off the contest.

Heavyweight is the land of the giants, but Nistor is just six-foot tall.

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According to Box Rec, all of Nistor’s eight wins have gone the distance and he has no professional knockouts as of yet.

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Still, he does have a stoppage over Joshua.

“I’d love to box again with my former rivals,” Nistor told World Boxing News.

“If I could box against Joshua and Usyk again, that would be my goal.

“But right now, I’m just not with them. I have been continuing to win fights. I’m a bit disappointed with my career.

“I was held back for about two years because of the pandemic.

“I am confident and convinced that I will make it to the level of Joshua and Usyk.”

Zuffa made major waves last week by snatching Conor Benn from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.

Benn will reportedly make eight figures for his trouble, widely believed to be around $15 million.

As the Dana White-fronted organisation continues to attempt its takeover of boxing, we can expect plenty more headline-making signings.