Anthony Joshua stays on track for a future bout with Deontay Wilder after he produced a spectacular stoppage of Robert Helenius at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday evening.
Joshua claimed the twenty sixth victory of his skilled profession with a primary knockout in three years, however even earlier than this bout all of the pre-fight speak was about what subsequent for the British heavyweight.
Here, the PA information company takes a take a look at the state of play for the previous two-time world heavyweight champion.
Was the booing justified?
The Matchroom present had been in doubt every week earlier when Dillian Whyte needed to be withdrawn after “adverse analytical findings” have been found in his doping check with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
It noticed Helenius drafted in on the eleventh hour however whereas there is no such thing as a doubt a sold-out O2 Arena would have been glad to see Joshua in motion, they clearly needed extra from the previous Olympian in the course of the first half of the 12-rounder. Joshua confronted whistles and boos throughout spherical three and jeers adopted after one other pedestrian spherical noticed the competition attain its midway level. A thunderous proper hand ensured the subsequent outburst by spectators contained in the London venue was applause.
DJ getting a tune out of AJ?
While Joshua was tentative early on in opposition to Helenius and didn’t need to initially commerce off with the 39-year-old, some context have to be supplied. The Finchley boxer had solely every week to arrange for his Finnish opponent and there’s a variety of inches distinction between Whyte and Helenius, which might have introduced out a major adjustment for the house favorite.
Joshua struggled to land together with his proper hand early on however was urged to maintain persevering by highly-respected coach Derrick James in solely their second bout collectively. James advised Joshua to “keep shooting the right” and it landed emphatically in the course of the seventh spherical with Helenius despatched toppling to the canvas.
Wilder subsequent?
Even earlier than Whyte’s withdrawal, a big chunk of the discourse round Joshua was whether or not he would truly battle Wilder subsequent. The former world heavyweight champions have been purported to lock horns for a number of years and it will have been a unification contest as lately as 4 years in the past.
Joshua needed to block out the noise to do the enterprise in opposition to Helenius however after he did, all eyes are actually on Wilder. Saudi Arabia promotional entity Skills Challenge is keen to host the mouth-watering conflict and dates in January and February are being drawn up.
So that’s that then?
We have been right here many occasions earlier than, not solely with Joshua and Wilder however Joshua and fellow Briton Tyson Fury. It appears getting the perfect of the heavyweight division in the ring collectively is without doubt one of the hardest jobs in the game. However, there’s a variety of purpose for optimism on this event.
A standard stumbling block might be the actual fact world heavyweight champions have obligatory challengers to face, however with Joshua and Wilder holding no belts, they’re free to battle whoever they need. The cash on supply ought to fulfill the calls for of each boxers, however Wilder’s coach Malik Scott did trace this week that his fighter want to be lively earlier than combating Joshua.
An October bout was proposed however even when that occurs, these two generational heavyweights ought to nonetheless commerce blows in 2024.
PA
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