- Anthony Joshua knocked out Robert Helenius in the seventh round in his boxing return.
Joshua faced a late-replacement for the second time in four years, the first being a shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr and, in the eyes of many, the point his career took a turn for the worse.
Helenius stepped in on six days’ notice to save the Matchroom/DAZN show after a lower-level win in Finland. He came fighting fit, and with a relative amount of danger to test AJ’s mentality more than anything else.
The Finnish fighter’s last big-stage show was a first round knockout loss to Deontay Wilder, the man Joshua wants to face next. Joshua wanted the stoppage, but it would be tough to beat his rival’s time.
He was notably reserved on the ringwalk – something that would be chalked up to nerves or focus depending on the result.
At the sound of the first bell, Helenius dived in quickly, but didn’t meet the same fate as he did against Wilder. Joshua threw little. He landed with a jab halfway through, but missed a follow-up hook. Helenius scored some good shots to the body whilst AJ still measured distance.
Joshua was keen to box again in the second, despite the consensus being he should stick it on the stoppable Helenius. He landed a good right hand entering the final minute, but simply didn’t throw enough afterwards to do any damage.
There were boos in the third, Joshua very tentative to step in and trade. He returned to the corner with blood coming from his nose.
He came out with a little more energy in the fourth, and landed a good left hand that bounced Helenius off the ropes. The big Finn held on, but didn’t look hurt. AJ landed a couple to the body with no follow up. Helenius was bleeding from the nose now too.
Joshua committed more in the fifth. Helenius grew in confidence as expected, and landed some of his own. AJ’s jab worked well for him in the sixth, but the crowd made their distaste known again when he was holding the right hand back.
He finally fired in the seventh, and that was goodnight. An exceptional right hook put Helenius flat out and worryingly so. Joshua exited the ring to celebrate with the crowd – his shoulders visibly less heavy
You do 𝙉𝙊𝙏 get up from those 😤#JoshuaHelenius | pic.twitter.com/1LHhhvr6We
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023
The pair shared an embrace once Helenius – a true Viking – was up and safe..
The big prize now for AJ is an encounter with Deontay Wilder in a blockbuster bout in Saudi Arabia early next year.
