Anthony Joshua, the two-time heavyweight champion, knocked out Dillian Whyte’s late replacement Robert Helenius with a nasty finish on Saturday night at London’s O2 Arena.
Joshua was set to face British heavyweight opponent Whyte in a much-anticipated rematch, but ‘The Body Snatcher’ failed a drug test a week before the fight.
Helenius of Finland, who stepped in on short notice, was no match for Joshua.
Joshua controlled the early rounds without dazzling before stopping his opponent in the seventh with a devastating right-hander to the jaw.
The 33-year-old was stunned by a late replacement in 2019 as Andy Ruiz took advantage of a chance of a lifetime to become world heavyweight champion, but Helenius was unable to produce a similar upset at the O2.
“People need to leave me alone, this is my time in the ring. Let me keep doing what I want to do,” Joshua told DAZN after the bout.
“I don’t want to say too much, but I want to see you [the fans] again two more times this year.”
