Anthony Joshua has set up a showdown with Deontay Wilder by brutally knocking out Robert Helenius in the seventh round of their heavyweight contest in London.
After the failed drugs test of Dillian Whyte, Joshua accepted Helenius as a late replacement to ensure that the event at the O2 Arena went ahead.
For a large part of their bout, the crowd could have been forgiven for wishing that they had taken the opportunity to accept a refund when given the opportunity in the days leading up to the fight.
However, after an uneventful six rounds which Joshua controlled without rarely looking like stopping the Finn, the two-time world heavyweight champion burst into life with one of the most eye-catching knockouts of his career.
With Helenius close to the ropes, Joshua threw the trademark right hand from the early days of his professional career, it detonating on Helenius's chin and rendering him unable to continue before he had hit the canvas.
Such a conclusive ending will help put a positive spin on what can only be described as a patient performance on his second fight under coach Derrick James.
The ringside angle of THAT @anthonyjoshua finish and the celebration 👀#JoshuaHelenius pic.twitter.com/7qasKMjJmt
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023
Nevertheless, 10 months on from Wilder stopping Helenius within the first three minutes, the tentativeness of Joshua's display will convince few people that he is currently at the right stage of his career to overcome the challenge of one of the biggest punchers in the history of the sport.
Commenting on the prospect of Wilder fighting Joshua in Saudi Arabia, promoter Eddie Hearn said: "We hope it's imminent. That's why he wanted the Dillian Whyte fight, it's hard for him to get up to fights like this.
"If he hits Wilder on the chin then it's over. This is about Anthony Joshua now, it's not about pleasing others. He's given everything to British boxing."
On the undercard, Dereck Chisora got the decision over Gerald Washington, despite having being hindered by an eye injury from the second round and his American opponent enjoying plenty of success in the fight.
Meanwhile, Filip Hrgovic set up a showdown with either unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk or Daniel Dubois with a last-round stoppage of Demsey McKean.
Darren Plant
