Anthony Joshua vs Helenius LIVE: Boxing result and reaction after AJ delivers brutal knockout
Follow live updates as Anthony Joshua boxes late replacement Robert Helenius at London’s O2 Arena
Anthony Joshua produced a devastating knockout against Robert Helenius to set up a blockbuster fight with Deontay Wilder.
The Finn, who stepped in on short notice for Dillian Whyte after a failed a drugs test, produced a disciplined display to frustrate ‘AJ’ for several rounds. But Joshua eventually caught Helenius with a clubbing right hand in the seventh round, suddenly ending the fight, sparking celebrations at ringside, including Conor McGregor.
Helenius had previously lost to Wilder, who was left in tears after stopping the 39-year-old in the first round in October. But now the Bronze Bomber is likely the next opponent for the Briton in one of the most anticipated fights in boxing history. The former two-time heavyweight champion could now face Wilder in Saudi Arabia, with negotiations for a January date already underway. Relive all the action, analysis and reaction from Joshua vs Helenius below.
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David Haye: Anthony Joshua lacks bounce
David Haye says: “He didn’t have much bounce in his feet, I don’t know, maybe he was trying to conserve his energy. Running the clock out, every round would increase his chances of a knockout.
“It’s been a while since he’s knocked somebody out like that.”
Tony Bellew: The feet are the key to Anthony Joshua
Tony Bellew says: “The feet are the key to everything, when the feet are in range, that can happen. If he lands that on Wilder, he’s going out too.
“Wilder will engage quicker, he has no filter, he’ll let them go.”
Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius LIVE
Hello everyone, and welcome to our live coverage of Anthony Joshua’s fight with Robert Helenius!
The heavyweights will clash at the O2 Arena tonight, as Finland’s Helenius steps in for Dillian Whyte on seven days’ notice.
Joshua was set for his third clash with Whyte here, having lost to his fellow Briton as an amateur before knocking him out in 2015. However, Whyte returned an adverse finding in a drug test last week, leading him to be pulled from tonight’s main event.
Helenius, a former sparring partner of “AJ”, steps in, just seven days after having fought and won in Finland. With that early stoppage of Mika Mielonen, Helenius bounced back from a first-round loss to Deontay Wilder, who was left in tears after stopping the 39-year-old in the first round in October.
Meanwhile, Joshua, 33, last fought in April, beating Jermaine Franklin on points to respond positively to two straight losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Can the former two-time heavyweight champion stay on track for a potential bout with Wilder? We’ll find out tonight in London. Follow live updates and results from the main event and undercard, right here.
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