Anthony “AJ” Joshua (26-3-0, 23 KOs) landed on Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius (32-5-0, 21 KOs) with a massive right punch in the seventh round on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.
Joshua, 33, in quest of a knockout blow achieved his gameplan to perfection, grasping the opponent from the start.
The first five rounds seemed like a slow start for AJ before taking control in the sixth.
Helenius, 39, was just looking to extend the fight, but Joshua was not really active until halfway through the fight.
The seventh round KO was proof of Joshua’s dominance in the heavyweight division, although Helenius accepted the fight in just seven days notice.
Joshua was supposed to fight Dillian Whyte, but he failed a drug test last week, leaving the British boxer scrambling for a replacement.
During his postfight interview, AJ said he wants to fight two more times within the next year.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed AJ’s next fight is going to be against Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia. They’re just ironing out the details.
AJ will then take on Tyson Fury, according to Hearn’s plan. Joshua also praised Helenius for his performance.
“I told him to please come again,” Joshua said. “In the modern era of boxing, a loss is like suicide.”