Anthony Joshua was in a position to block out jeers and boos from the O2 Arena crowd to provide a thunderous seventh-round stoppage in opposition to Robert Helenius and keep on monitor for a future bout with Deontay Wilder.
Joshua had been set to face fellow British heavyweight Dillian Whyte till his rival needed to be pulled from the present final weekend when “adverse analytical findings” had been detected in his doping check.
Helenius stepped in as a last-minute opponent, however the pre-match focus was on what subsequent for Joshua with talks happening with Wilder’s camp over a battle within the new yr.
It would solely occur if Joshua might navigate the Finnish veteran and a sluggish begin to proceedings in London noticed whistles adopted by boos in spherical three and additional jeers occurred on the finish of spherical six.
Joshua was in a position to present the gang with a speculator end, unleashing an enormous proper hand to knock Helenius off his toes after one minute and 27 seconds of spherical seven.
There was transient concern over Helenius, who remained immobile, and it noticed Joshua go away the ring to have a good time with the followers, however his opponent was in a position to get again as much as his toes earlier than the 2 fighters touched gloves.
While Joshua was coy over what subsequent, promotor Eddie Hearn revealed plans to battle Wilder subsequent and present world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury later in 2024.
Hearn mentioned: “It is the fight we want. We have a three-fight plan.
“It was Helenius, first Dillian Whyte and then Helenius, and now Wilder and then Tyson Fury. That is the ambition.”
Meanwhile, Joshua responded to his critics throughout a brief interview within the ring.
“I just want to give a big round of applause for Robert Helenius for taking this fight,” Joshua began off.
“People need to leave me alone. This is my time in the ring. Let me breath. The guy has got talent, I had to figure him out because he was a late replacement and I want to thank him for saving the show.
“I don’t want to say too much. But my back hurts from carrying the heavyweight division.”