Sports
Anthony Joshua Defeats Helenius With Seventh-Round Knockout
People need to leave me alone, this is my time in the ring,” Joshua told DAZN.
In a remarkable turn of events, heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua delivered a stunning knockout blow to Robert Helenius with a single punch during the seventh round.
The fight, held at London’s O2 Arena, saw Joshua adopting a cautious approach in the initial rounds before his explosive victory.
The 33-year-old British boxer, who had faced criticism from fans in the arena, struggled to make a significant impact with his punches.
Victory kept Joshua on course for a bout with fellow former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
“People need to leave me alone, this is my time in the ring,” Joshua told DAZN.
“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.”
Regarding a potential fight with Deontay Wilder, the two-time world champion Anthony Joshua playfully quipped, “My back’s gone, is there a doctor in here? I want to carry this heavyweight division to the top!”
Robert Helenius stepped in as a replacement after participating in a bout in Finland the previous weekend, filling the gap left by Dillian Whyte’s withdrawal due to “adverse analytical findings” in a doping test.
At 39 years old, Helenius, with a record of 32 wins and four defeats from his 36 professional fights, had previously suffered a first-round knockout by Wilder in October.
In his match against Joshua on Saturday, Helenius managed to avoid a repeat of that swift loss. However, as Joshua cautiously began the fight, boos echoed from the capacity crowd during the third round.
Joshua’s momentum picked up though, as he connected with a left hook and followed it up with a right to Helenius’ face later in the same round.
The intensity of the fifth round had a noticeable impact on Helenius, evident by the bloodied nose he sustained. Despite stumbling due to Joshua’s left uppercut, Helenius showcased his resilience and managed to weather the storm, proceeding through an uneventful sixth round.
In a satisfying turn of events for the spectators, Joshua eventually delivered the much-anticipated moment. A powerful right-hand punch from Joshua landed, resulting in a decisive knockout of Helenius during the seventh round.
The force of the knockout left Helenius momentarily motionless on the canvas. However, he exemplified his determination and sportsmanship by swiftly rising to his feet and extending his gloves to Joshua, a gesture that underscored the mutual respect and competitive spirit between the two fighters.
