Anthony Joshua confirms Deontay Wilder pact after ruthless Robert Helenius KO
Anthony Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have successfully confirmed that Deontay Wilder would be the heavyweight’s subsequent opponent early subsequent yr. Although the struggle is but to be signed and sealed, ‘AJ’ can now flip his consideration in the direction of a high-stakes Saudi match-up after knocking out Robert Helenius.
Joshua was subjected to a late change of plans this weekend when his unique opponent, Dillian Whyte, was compelled to tug out of their O2 Arena contest after returning ‘antagonistic findings’ from a random medicine take a look at.
Despite combating solely final weekend, 39-year-old Helenius stepped in at extraordinarily quick discover to take Whyte’s place. The towering Finn lasted seven rounds with the previous WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion earlier than a devastating proper hand noticed him tumble to the canvas.
After the struggle, which was attended by Saudi Arabia officers amid rumours of AJ’s subsequent contest being held within the Middle East, the Brit was requested whether or not a struggle with Wilder is on the agenda.
“It sounds like it,” he responded. “I’m just happy we’re getting this fight underway, potentially soon. It does great for boxing, we’ll look back in years to come and think ‘Wow look at that era, that guy fought everyone’.
“That’s what’s necessary today, not defending your 0 or worrying about something. Just combating the perfect and giving it your finest. It’s not straightforward to get these large fights over the road however I’ve bought belief in my workforce.
“They’ve taken me a long way, collecting four of the five major belts and becoming unified two-time heavyweight champion of the world. We’ve done great business, I’ve fought in America and Saudi. My team are amazing and I put all of my faith in them to deliver, we’ve just got to hope the other team play ball as well.”
The win over Helenius took Joshua’s report to 26 wins and three defeats, whereas it was additionally the 33-year-old’s first knockout victory since dispatching Kubrat Pulev in 2020. Wilder’s most up-to-date struggle was additionally towards Helenius, whom he knocked out within the first spherical.
The American former WBC heavyweight champion has solely ever misplaced to Tyson Fury, and his devastating knockout energy will guarantee Joshua is subjected to a harmful take a look at.
“I think he can beat Deontay Wilder comfortably but he can also be beaten by Wilder,” stated Hearn on Saturday evening. “Everything we’re hearing from every side is that the fight is going ahead.”