round win over Emanuele Leo By Ben Dirs BBC Sport at the O2 Arena British heavyweight hope Anthony Joshua easily won his first fight as a professional, stopping Emanuele Leo in the first round at London's O2 Arena. Joshua, who won super-heavyweight gold at the 2012 Olympics , outclassed his Italian opponent, who was previously unbeaten in eight fights. Joshua had Leo over with a vicious flurry of punches two minutes and 47 seconds into the bout. The 23-year-old Londoner will next fight in Sheffield on 26 October. "It was as important as the Olympics and everyone's proud we got the victory," Joshua told Sky Sports. I'm really happy with my performance. You only get one pro debut and we did it in spectacular fashion. It's just the start, a beginning but we can build on that. On the same bill, fellow Olympic champion Luke Campell's second paid fight resulted in a first-round knockout of Darlington's Neil Hepper. On the face of it, promoter Eddie Hearn's decision to match Joshua against an unbeaten fighter over six rounds for his first professional fight was a bold one. However, the 32-year-old Leo had fought only eight times in a little over four years before Saturday and never outside of Italy. In addition, the doughy Leo was giving away significant height and weight advantages to the 6ft 6in, 17 stone Joshua. Working with trainer Tony Sims, Londoner Joshua has dropped a stone since his Olympic triumph and it is doubtful whether a finer physical specimen has been seen in a British ring. Joshua, who turned pro on the advice of Britain's greatest ever heavyweight Lennox Lewis, used his jab to good effect from the opening bell, wobbling Leo on a number of occasions before the end came. Hearn's task over the next 12 months will be a tricky one as he looks to protect his investment while expanding his skillset and profile with the British public. Joshua's aim is to become a world champion within four years, which would see him emulate Lewis, Frank Bruno and David Haye as British heavyweight world champions in the modern era. Meanwhile, Hull's Campbell, fighting in the lightweight division, gave a fine demonstration of body punching to dispose of his opponent in one minute and 59 seconds. It was his second successive first-round knockout.