ANTHONY JOSHUA has knocked out Robert Helenius in the seventh round in his boxing return.
It was a huge confidence builder for AJ as he won inside the distance for the first time in two and a half years.
The big prize now for AJ is an encounter with Deontay Wilder in a blockbuster bout in Saudi Arabia early next year.
JOSHUA VS HELENIUS BETTING SPECIAL
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Eddie Hearn lays out Joshua plan
When asked what is next for his fighter, Hearn said the plan was to fight Wilder in January in Saudi Arabia.
Talks will be ongoing to make the fight happen.
Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder, the one they all want to see.
Anthony Joshua wins by KO
As soon as Joshua landed the knockout punch, he jumped out of the ring fist bumping friends in the crowd.
Conor McGregor hugged him and poured some Guinness down his neck.
Anthony Joshua is the first to thank Robert Helenius for stepping in late and saving the show.
Credit: Reuters Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius
Joshua had a bloodied nose from the jabs of Helenius.
As he came inside, Helenius threw some punches before Joshua threw a big right hand and caught him square on the side of the jaw.
Helenius went down like a brick thrown in a pond.
Game over.
Credit: Getty
Anthony Joshua wins by KO
Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius (Round 6)
Joshua keeps boxing behind his jab.
It has caused some bruising to the face of Helenius and blood coming from his nose.
Helenius seems to be getting more confident and is throwing some big hooks, looking to land something.
Joshua has some bruising to his left eye from the jabs of Helenius.
This is like Joshua’s mum told him when he left the house, she doesn’t want him back home before 1am as she has a Tinder date.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius (Round 5)
Joshua has managed to bloody the nose of Helenius with a series of jabs.
Whenever he gets a good punch through it really leaves Helenius looking stunned.
You have to wonder why he is not following up these punches with combos to send him to the canvas.
It is like somebody has told Joshua that Wilder lent Helenius his punching ability and he is fearing getting caught with one.
Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius (Round 4)
Robert Helenius seems willing to have a go more when Anthony Joshua comes inside now, throwing uppercuts.
Fortunately for Joshua they are airshots.
Joshua lands a right hook which rocks Helenius but Joshua seems to hold back, not wanting to go in for the kill.
With this style of attack, he would make a terrible vet, loads of terminally ill animals knocking around the joint on their last legs.
Helenius caught Joshua with a good jab that rocked him.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius (Round 3)
Anthony Joshua has to prove something to the boxing fraternity here.
While there is pacing yourself and going the distance, he really should be on the offensive against an opponent like this.
Helenius is happy to dance around and land the occasional jab.
He wasn’t planning on this fight, he thought he was going on holiday to Lapland with his family this week.
Joshua lands a heavy jab to the face which sends Helenius back onto the ropes but he doesn’t follow it up.
He obviously has never played Mortal Kombat………finish him!!!!
Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius (Round 2)
Slow start by Joshua and you feel the more rounds this goes, the more confident Helenius will get.
He has taken this fight at 7 days notice compared to the training camp his opponent has been in.
Joshua comes inside and goes with a big hook that grazes the beard of Helenius.
The Nordic boxer continues with his jabs which do land through the guard of Joshua but he absorbs them.
Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius (Round 1)
Very few punches thrown by either boxer in the first round.
Anthony Joshua throws a few big right hands but they do not connect with anything.
Robert Helenius is happy to come on the front foot and lands some good body shots.
Very tame first round there.
Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius
Interesting choice of music from Joshua, with a lady playing the themetune to The Godfather on violin.
Deontay Wilder stopped his opponent in the first round.
Big pressure for Joshua to get the stoppage as he plans to fight Wilder next.
The violin stops and Joshua appears to the tune of Faithless Insomnia.
Anthony Joshua walks into the ring
Ready for the main event
As Anthony Joshua goes through his final warm up routines, we are readying ourselves for the big fight.
He has had to alter his preparations with his opponent changing so late in the day.
It is vital that he wins this fight tonight to leave the path for him to fight Deontay Wilder around December/January time.
Derek Chisora wins by unanimous decision
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 10)
We make it to the final round, with two weary fighters.
Washington’s corner told him there is still a fight here to be won and to take advantage of how slow Chisora is.
Chisora lands a good jab that rocks his opponent slightly.
He looks to work the body as he comes inside.
Derek Chisora is looking very tired heading into the final minute, looking to hold Washington more.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 9)
Neither boxer seems to have anything in the tank now to finish this fight with a knockout.
Both fighters are looking like they are feeling the pace, Chisora still throwing haymakers hoping one will win this fight.
They just seem so wild, like they are thrown with his eyes closed.
Washington is finding it all too easy to stay out of the way of them while continuing to work him with his jab.
This one looks destined to go to the scorecards now.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 8)
Chisora is still trying to get behind that jab of his.
Washington is looking out for it and trying to dodge it.
The wild over the top punches from Chisora have not been landing all night and all too often take him off balance.
Another even round, tricky to pick a boxer who took that round.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 7)
As the fight goes on now, Chisora seems to be improving.
Rather than just going in like a bar brawl he is boxing in a more considered fashion.
It is working to his advantage as he is making Washington think more.
Looking out for Chisora’s right hand than worrying about landing his own.
Washington finishes the round strong as he lands a right and follows it up with a series of punches as the first one put Chisora on the back foot.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 6)
Occasionally when Chisora walks in, Washington manages to lands uppercuts but he is able to absorb them.
Credit where it is due, Chisora can take a barrage of punches.
This is a much better round by Chisora as he following up his fabs with big hits over the top.
He is making it more difficult for Washington to land punches on him.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 5)
Derek Chisora seems more comfortable throwing body shots due to the height difference between the two fighters.
He has to punch upwards to land any head shots.
When he does get one through you can see Washington feels the hard hits of Chisora.
An even round both fighters getting some good combos in.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 4)
As the taller man, Washington is able to work his reach more.
At times, Chisora cannot get inside him to land punches.
Washington lands a good two punch combo which rattles Chisora.
His legs seem tired, Chisora needs to reset.
Chisora is throwing more air-shots, Washington is picking his punches and landing more.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 3)
It seems the cut was from a coming together of heads.
The referee has decided if that cut causes the fight to be stopped it will go to the scorecards.
Both fighters are willing to land scoring punches when they can.
Chisora is on the front foot more, seeming to burn more energy.
Washington is the older boxer at 41 years old, but seems to be playing the long game more.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 2)
Washington lands a good right and cuts the eye of Chisora.
There is blood streaming from it as the Brit tries to change styles.
He is still coming forward, he does not seem bothered by the cut.
Washington is looking lighter on his feet and sends Chisora to the canvas right on the bell but the referee signals no knockout.
Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington (Round 1)
Washington doesn’t appear to have a high guard.
That leaves him open to Chisora’s punch.
Whenever Chisora comes forward to throw one, Washington steps back away from it.
He is trying to get Chisora to walk onto his right hand, landing some good body punches.
Credit: Reuters Derek Chisora vs Gerald Washington
Chisora comes out to the tune of Hotel California.
Wearing all pink, he looks focussed.
Gerald ‘The Gentleman’ Washington looks up for this one as well.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
