Two-time champion Anthony Joshua scores knockout win, has Deontay Wilder in sights

LONDON — Former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua gained for the second time on his comeback path after blocking out jeers from the O2 Enviornment crowd to provide a thunderous seventh-round stoppage towards Robert Helenius on Saturday night time and keep on monitor for a future bout with Deontay Wilder.

Joshua had been set to face fellow British heavyweight Dillian Whyte till his rival needed to be pulled from the present final weekend when “hostile analytical findings” had been detected in his doping take a look at.

Helenius stepped in as a last-minute opponent, however the pre-match focus was on what was subsequent for Joshua with talks going down with Wilder’s camp over a battle within the new yr.

It might solely occur if Joshua may navigate the Finnish veteran and a gradual begin to proceedings in London noticed whistles adopted by boos in spherical three and additional jeers on the finish of spherical six.

Joshua was in a position to present the group with a spectacular end, unleashing an enormous proper hand to knock Helenius off his toes after 1 minute, 27 seconds of spherical seven.

Joshua had returned to his profitable methods in April however solely after an unconvincing show in a unanimous factors victory over Jermaine Franklin.

There was preliminary concern over Helenius, who remained immobile, however his opponent was in a position to get again as much as his toes earlier than the 2 fighters touched gloves.

Whereas Joshua was coy over what subsequent, promoter Eddie Hearn revealed plans to battle Wilder subsequent and present world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury later in 2024.

“It’s the battle we wish. We have now a three-fight plan,” Hearn mentioned. “It was Helenius, first Dillian Whyte after which Helenius, and now Wilder after which Tyson Fury. That’s the ambition.”

In the meantime, Joshua responded to his critics throughout a brief interview within the ring.

“I simply need to give a giant spherical of applause for Robert Helenius for taking this battle,” Joshua mentioned. “Folks want to depart me alone. That is my time within the ring. Let me breathe. The man has obtained expertise, I needed to determine him out as a result of he was a late alternative and I need to thank him for saving the present.

“I don’t need to say an excessive amount of. However my again hurts from carrying the heavyweight division.”