Former world champion Anthony Joshua demonstrated his prowess once again as he secured a seventh-round knockout victory over stand-in opponent Robert Helenius in their heavyweight bout on Saturday.
The unexpected match-up came after Helenius replaced Dillian Whyte, who was forced to withdraw from the all-British clash due to “adverse analytical findings” in a doping test.
Despite the late change, the bout proved to be an intense showdown between the two fighters.
Helenius, aged 39, entered the ring with an impressive record of 32 wins and four defeats from 36 professional bouts.
He notably faced a knockout in the first round against Deontay Wilder in October, making his performance against Joshua a pivotal opportunity for redemption.
The fight took place at London’s O2 Arena, with a capacity crowd in attendance.
Although Joshua initially adopted a cautious approach, the atmosphere became tense during the third round, leading to audible boos from the spectators.
As the match progressed, Joshua began to assert his dominance. He landed a powerful left hook followed by a right to Helenius’s face in the third round.
The local hero continued to build momentum, rocking Helenius once again in the fourth and leaving him with a bloodied nose in the fifth.
Despite a spirited effort from Helenius, Joshua’s skill and strategy prevailed. A left uppercut from Joshua left Helenius stumbling but resilient in the sixth round.
Ultimately, Joshua unleashed a decisive blow in the seventh round, delivering a powerful right-hand punch that resulted in a knockout victory.
