British-Nigerian former World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua, late Saturday night, punched Finnish opponent, Robert Helenius, with the first devastating punch of round 7 at the London 02 Arena to earn a knockout that silenced the booing crowd.
The victory was the first via knockout in his career bout since 2020.
The crowd jeered at the two pugilists who in attempts to size each other up gave dull, sparkles moments, but fire came from the round where AJ drew blood from Helenius.
Both boxers upgraded with barrages to the body and a few upper cuts that no one suspected AJ could end the bout with Tsunamis of a right hand punch to the cheek of Helenius that sent him to the canvas like a discarded bag of Beans for the ring side medical crew to hurriedly attend to.
AJ looked at his adversary on the canvas looking dejected and injured with just a ballistic throw and AJ grinned probably whispering.
Helenius Return From Retirement
A significantly tall Helenius at 6ft 9inches and 39 years old to fight AJ who is 33 years old, had retired but came back quickly after he lost to Wilder (the Bronze Bomber) in round one last October.
He became a late replacement for Dilan Whyte who was supposed to fight AJ in this bout but was shoved aside for having problems with drug enhancement usage.
That brought AJ’s fighting record to 23 knockouts of 26 wins and three loses in 29 bouts while Helenius now has 21 knockouts from 32 wins and five loses.
The bout itself would have come at the weigh-in on Friday that turned a verbal war. Helenius called AJ a robotic boxer and AJ retorted, “Robotic? I became a champion being robotic” apparently mocking Helenius who has never held on to any belt.
AJ had on Friday weighed 250 Ibs same as he weighed when he fought ring giant, Russian Wladimir Kilitschko in 2017 though he had weighed 255.4 Ibs against Andy Ruz. Helenius weighed 249.4 Ibs.
AJ ‘Looming War’ Against Wilder, Fury
Earlier, Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed AJ’s next fight is going to be against Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
He said they were already ironing out the details.
Later on, AJ will then take on Tyson Fury, according to Hearn’s plan.
