It took Anthony Joshua awhile but he delivered in the end against Robert Helenius, which sets up a showdown with Deontay Wilder.
Helenius, who stopped a journeyman in three rounds last weekend, took the fight with Joshua on less than a week's notice after Dillian Whyte failed a drug test and was pulled from the card.Joshua controlled the fight with his jab and threw power shots here and there but was reluctant to take significant risks as he tried to figure out his opponent, instead waiting for the perfect opportunity to land a big blow.
Then everything changed in a breathtaking moment. Helenius had his back against the ropes when Joshua unleashed a straight right hand that caught Helenius on his chin, sending him to the canvas in an unconscious state and lifting the suddenly satisfied spectators to their feet. Just like that Joshua, fighting for the second time with new trainer Derrick James, turned what had been an uninspiring performance into a Knockout of the Year candidate. That's exactly what he hoped to do going into an expected meeting with Wilder late this year or early in 2024.
"My back, my back. Is there a doctor in here? My back is going," he said, his voice rising,"… [is going] to carry this heavyweight division to the top."
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