Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 26-3 (23) scored his first knockout in almost four years when he stopped late replacement Robert ‘The Nordic Nightmare’ Helenius 32-5 (21) in the seventh round at the O2 Arena in London, England on Saturday night.
England’s Johsua, 33, was supposed to face Dillian Whyte 29-3 (19) in a rematch before he was scratched from the bout one week ago after failing a drug test.
That opened the door for Finland’s Helenius, 39, to step in an fill the void.
Much of the action for the first six rounds could be described as dour, with both boxer content with a moderate pace of attack based largely on the jab. According to CompuBox, Joshua and Helenius had landed 51 and 34 jabs respectively in the first half of the fight compared to 15 and 11 power punches.
The end came abruptly in the seventh round when Joshua worked his way inside behind a double jab and launched an overhand right. Helenius leaned back to avoid the blow but Joshua followed him in, cracking him hard on the chin and sending him unconscious to the canvas. Referee Victor Loughlin immediately waved off the contest at the 1:27 mark.
It was the type of dramatic ending that can make people forget about the slow pace of the fight up until then.
Joshua thanked Helenius for showing up and said his opponent could still make noise in the heavyweight division.
“Helenius has got talent,” Joshua said. “I had to figure him out. I think he can cause a lot of people some problems. Credit to him for saving the show.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn praised his boxer for continuing to develop his game despite already having been to the top of the mountain twice.
“Whether you back Josh, whether you think he can do, whether he can’t, things have changed,” Hearn said.
“He’s now a mature heavyweight. And I know everyone wants to see first-, second-, and third-round KOs, but against Helenius, he took his time and delivered one of the knockouts of the year.”
Joshua will no turn his sights to a showdown with former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder 43-2-1 (42) in Saudi Arabia in January. It is a fight that Hearn says they are ready for after tonight’s win.
“It’s the fight we want. We have a three-fight plan. Helenius, Deontay Wilder and then Tyson Fury. That is the ambition,” Hearn said.
“We believe he can go and beat Wilder. Skills Challenge are here tonight so we will try to close that deal over the next couple of days.
“We are looking at a January date and we are ready to sign for that date. Saudi Arabia want one of the biggest heavyweight fights of all time and we’re ready.
“Josh is ready for that fight. He’s given everything to this sport. He’s given everything to British boxing. He’s ready now for some big marquee fights.”
