Anthony Joshua demonstrated his potential for an upcoming showdown with fellow former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder by securing a remarkable seventh-round knockout win over Robert Helenius.
On Saturday at the O2 Arena, Anthony Joshua secured an impressive seventh-round knockout victory over Robert Helenius, showcasing his potential for an upcoming clash against fellow former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
After a cautious and slow start, Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) delivered a remarkable finish that highlighted his patience rather than explosive power. The decisive knockout occurred at 1 minute and 27 seconds into the seventh round.
Over the weekend, representatives from Saudi Arabia engaged in discussions with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn in London, exploring the possibility of a January fight between Joshua and Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs).
“That’s the fight we want,” Hearn said in the ring afterward. “We have a three-fight plan: Robert Helenius, Deontay Wilder and [WBC champion] Tyson Fury. That’s the ambition of the team.
“He’s a mature heavyweight now, and against Helenius he took his time to deliver one of the knockouts of the year. He’s ready now for some marquee fights. He’s smarter now. He’s going to take less risks.”
Joshua said he would welcome a fight with Wilder next, saying the matchup would be a “win” for boxing.
“Any time’s a good time to fight,” Joshua said. “It’s only a fight. It don’t matter who it is. It could’ve been Wilder eight years ago or Wilder now. It is what it is at the end of the day.”
He added: “There’s no worry to me when it is. I’m just happy that we can get the fight going, and I think people appreciate that. I’m doing my best to keep heavyweight boxing on the map.”
Follow us on all social media platform, @Sportscliffs on Twitter and Instagram and also like our facebook page
