Anthony Joshua took out Robert Helenius inside seven rounds on the O2 Enviornment in London on Saturday.
Helenius stunned when he took Joshua into the second half of their contest however then with a single shot, an enormous proper cross to the jaw, Joshua extinguished his efforts, dropping him closely at 1-27 of the seventh spherical.
Joshua was resulting from renew hostilities with previous rival Dillan Whyte on this present. However that bout needed to be cancelled after Whyte returned antagonistic analytic findings within the pre-fight anti-doping protocols.
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Joshua unleashes a hurtful proper
It left Joshua in search of a alternative opponent at only a week’s discover and Helenius, moments after he had taken a three-round victory over Mika Mielonen final weekend in Finland made himself out there for this struggle.
After being knocked out within the first spherical by Deontay Wilder, Helenius was seizing a possibility to return to motion on the high tier of the heavyweight division. He started with spirit too, speeding out within the first spherical to cuff punches at Joshua’s guard.
Joshua, a former unified champion, is decided to reclaim a title and for him Helenius was simply one other step on the street again.
He was affected person, he softened Helenius up with the occasional mixture after which delivered a brutal ending.
By the second spherical Joshua was taking management. He lunged in with a left hook to catch Helenius. His jab thumped into the physique however he would not rush himself.
Joshua may steadily have been taking the measure of this short-notice opponent, having an in depth have a look at him. However that wasn’t what the group needed to see. They needed extra motion.
As early because the third spherical boos started to ring out from some quarters of the sector, a requirement for urgency.
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Joshua watches Helenius crash to the canvas
Joshua answered that decision although and launched a proper cross flush into Helenius’ jaw. It linked and a cursory look at Helenius confirmed it was a hurtful punch.
However the Finn collected himself. He withstood a cost within the subsequent spherical and boxed by it. Within the fifth, with Helenius backed into the ropes, Joshua smacked in a proper that struck so onerous the thud was audible.
The tempo leaked out of the competition within the sixth spherical and if Joshua was affronted to see Helenius nonetheless in with him within the latter half of the competition, he completed issues with a sudden burst of velocity.
His jab flicked out, distracting Helenius and the best carved a path by to hit the Finn cleanly to the jaw.
The blasting shot dropped him closely, ending the competition directly.
The consequence, and the way of the end, clearly delighted Joshua. He even left the ring to have a good time earlier than returning to have his hand formally raised by the referee.
He took his time however finally Joshua acquired precisely the ending he needed.
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Joshua celebrates his first knockout win since 2020
Wilder subsequent?
“My again’s gone,” Joshua cried. “I am carrying this heavyweight division to the highest!”
Joshua needs to be on the right track to struggle Wilder himself. Malik Scott, the American’s coach revealed that struggle was successfully “locked in” for January of subsequent 12 months.
Selecting up a second consecutive victory with new coach Derrick James in his nook, and his first stoppage win since 2020, will not have damage Joshua’s confidence forward of that potential conflict with the division’s greatest puncher.
Undercard motion
On the undercard Filip Hrgovic retained his standing because the necessary challenger for the IBF heavyweight title, held by Oleksandr Usyk together with the WBO and WBA belts. Nevertheless it took till the twelfth and closing spherical for Hrgovic to discover a stoppage.
He damage Australia’s Dempsey McKean with a proper to the jaw however acquired away with clubbing blows to the again of the pinnacle earlier than the referee halted the Australian.
British heavyweight Derek Chisora, as soon as a world title challenger however now on the very tail finish of his profession, laboured to a unanimous choice over 41-year-old American Gerald Washington.
Chisora took the sluggish paced 10-rounder 98-93, 97-94 and 96-94 the judges’ scorecards.