Anthony Joshua knocks out Robert Helenius, wants Deontay Wilder next - ESPN

LONDON — Anthony Joshua scored a spectacular seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius on Saturday at the O2 Arena, setting up a potential showdown next with fellow former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) produced a brilliant finish after a sluggish, tentative start in a performance that was more patient than explosive. The knockout came 1 minute, 27 seconds into Round 7.

Representatives from Saudi Arabia were in London this weekend to discuss a fight between Joshua and Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn for January.

«That's the fight we want,» Hearn said in the ring afterward. «We have a three-fight plan: Robert Helenius, Deontay Wilder and [WBC champion] Tyson Fury. That's the ambition of the team.

»He's a mature heavyweight now, and against Helenius he took his time to deliver one of the knockouts of the year. He's ready now for some marquee fights. He's smarter now. He's going to take less risks."

Helenius (32-5, 21 KOs) was a late substitute opponent, taking the fight on a week's notice after it was announced Dillian Whyte had failed a drug test, but it was still a significant win for Joshua.

It was the English boxer's first stoppage win since he knocked out Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds in December 2020, following back-to-back points defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, IBF and WBO world champion, and a cautious unanimous points win over Jermaine Franklin in April.

After a timid start, Joshua eventually let his hands go to knock out Helenius with a thunderous right hand. It was a finish to add to the highlights reel but Joshua was slow to get going.

Joshua, 33, seemed uninterested in matching Wilder's quick knockout of Helenius, which came in the closing seconds