Anthony Joshua unleashed a huge right hand to defeat Finland’s Robert Helenius via knockout in London and set his sights on a return to the top of the heavyweight division.
The British boxing megastar was due to fight Dillian Whyte for the second time but that bout was scrapped after White produced “adverse analytical findings”, according to a doping test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
BOXING | WED AUG 23: Nikita Tszyu, with an unbeaten record, faces Jack Brubaker, seeking redemption after a past defeat to Tim Tszyu. Plus, Liam Wilson, takes on undefeated world number 13 Carlos Alanis. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
Helenius (32-4) stepped in the at the last minute, but was a class below Joshua having been knocked out in the first round by Deontay Wilder in October.
Joshua, 33, eased his way into the fight against 39-year-old Helenius and looked content to get rounds under his belt in a fairly lacklustre start to the bout.
But 1 minute and 27 seconds into the seventh round, Joshua hit Helenius with a brutal right hand that knocked him out cold and sent the Finnish fight onto the ropes and falling to the canvas.
The DAZN commentator called the punch “a quite stunning, highlight reel knockout”.
“My back hurts because I’m carrying this heavyweight division to the top,” former heavyweight world champion Joshua joked in the ring after the fight.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said there is a “three-fight plan” for Joshua that will ideally see him take on Dillian Whyte, Wilder and Tyson Fury.
“I need to keep building and building because I’ve been off for too long,” Joshua said.
He takes his record to 26-3 and as he continues his quest to return to the top of the heavyweight division after two losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.