Anthony Joshua secured an impressive seventh-round knockout victory over Robert Helenius at the O2 arena on Saturday. This win marked Joshua’s first knockout victory since his triumph over Kubrat Pulev in December 2020.
In an unexpected turn of events, Anthony Joshua took a swig from Conor McGregor’s pint after the KO, but then proceeded to disregard the presence of the UFC legend.
The bout against Robert Helenius was arranged on short notice as a replacement for Dillian Whyte, who faced a setback due to a failed PED test. McGregor made an appearance in the ring after the event’s finish and offered his pint to a visibly dazed Joshua. Joshua, seemingly in good spirits, accepted the gesture and took a sip from the pint. However, he turned away and continued his path, not giving McGregor any further attention.
McGregor was helping promote the event.
Despite the victory, Joshua’s performance was met with mixed reviews. While it wasn’t a vintage display from the heavyweight champion, the win carried significant importance as it marked his first knockout victory in three years. Helenius, who has an impressive record, suffered only his fourth knockout defeat out of 37 bouts. Some critics voiced their opinion that Joshua’s approach was overly cautious.
In his interview with DAZN, Joshua addressed his critics, stating, “People need to leave me alone, this is my time in the ring. Let me keep doing what I want to do.” He acknowledged Helenius’s potential, expressing, “I told him to come again. I think he can cause people a lot of problems. I don’t want to say too much. I want to see you again two more times this year.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn also shared insights, emphasizing Joshua’s cautious approach against a formidable opponent like Helenius. Hearn stated, “The guy [Helenius] is six foot eight, he can punch a bit, AJ doesn’t want to take any chances. This is the AJ you’re going to see now, no chances.” Hearn expressed his satisfaction with Joshua’s knockout performance, labeling it as the “knockout of the year.”
Looking ahead, Hearn expressed hopes for an imminent fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. He highlighted Joshua’s eagerness to face challenging opponents and his determination to regain his heavyweight titles. Hearn concluded, “This is about Anthony Joshua now, it’s not about pleasing others. He’s given everything to British boxing.”