British-Nigerian former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua has knocked out his challenger, Robert Helenius in the seventh round at London’s O2 Arena.
Helenius was last minute replacement for Dilian Whyte, after he was said to have taken performance enhancing drugs.
It was Joshua’s first knockout win since December 2020 in stunning fashion. A clean right hand put Helenius out cold in the seventh after a tentative fight from Joshua.
With the victory, Joshua improves his record to 26 wins and three losses.
A long-awaited showdown with Deontay Wilder awaits Joshua in January.
The fight is Joshua‘s back-to-back wins after his decision victory against Jermaine Franklin in April.
It is also the 23rd knockout win of his career and his first since stopping Kubrat Pulev 2020.
Anthony Joshua knocks out Helenius in seventh round
Joshua knocks out Helenius
Helenius has only lost four times by knockout in a 37-fight career.
Speaking after the fight with DAZN, Joshua said: “People need to leave me alone, this is my time in the ring. Let me keep doing what I want to do.
“Helenius, I told him to come again. I think he can cause people a lot of problems. I don’t want to say too much. I want to see you again two more times this year.”
On Deontay Wilder fight, Joshua said “My back’s gone, is there a doctor in here? I want to carry this heavyweight division to the top!”
Speaking also with BBC, he said: “”It’s a fickle sport, you’ve got to be real about this industry and not get caught up. I’ve done my job tonight.”
