Joshua Stops Helenius in Seven Rounds

Joshua Stops Helenius in Seven Rounds

Anthony Joshua found the big right hand in the 7th round, but what came before was anything but encouraging for what lies ahead.

Robert Helenius came in at a week’s notice and more than earned whatever he was paid for his services. But despite the admittedly explosive finish, it left us with more questions than answers. Joshua deserves credit for taking the fight at short notice, but it was another worrying performance.

Joshua was far from impressive, and the tentative fighter of late was on display yet again. The former two-weight heavyweight champion of the world lacked the old aggression, and you suspect the Joshua of old would have done the job several rounds earlier. Time will tell if it is a sign of maturity or a sign of a declining fighter. The odds indicate it is the latter.

Helenius had success with his jab and the occasional body shot, and if he had shown a little more ambition, then he might have been celebrating a famous victory. But Joshua, while always in control, still left us wondering why it had taken so long for the finish to come.

The road to Deontay Wilder has been cleared, but is it just a road to nowhere. At 33, the excuses of still being a work in progress are wearing thin. Something is missing, and it has been since Andy Ruiz exposed many things on that famous night in Madison Square Garden.

Joshua heard boos from a restless and subdued crowd at the O2 Arena in London, and it summed up the mood of the night. The undercard, despite the cheerleaders saying differently, was always underwhelming, and that was how it turned out. In truth, it was much worse. And remember, it was supposed to be a PPV offering until Dillian Whyte had his latest set of issues with drug testing officials. The right hand of Joshua was the only highlight of another utterly depressing week for boxing.

Derek Chisora and Gerald Washington was a shameful piece of matchmaking. It was a horrible, painful, and deeply uncomfortable spectacle. Hopefully, Chisora will now finally call it a day. If he doesn’t, the sport should make that call for him. Enough is enough. And it has been for quite some time. Chisora shouldn’t be fighting and the fact that he is, shows that boxing has no shame.

The DAZN presentation added to the misery with the incredibly biased commentary and punditry. At times, it was like an excruciatingly painful pantomime. Throw in the customary KSI appearance and the nonsensical contribution from Conor McGregor, and you see why boxing is where it is right now. McGregor once slept Jose Aldo in thirteen seconds, he is now calling out KSI. Is that what he has become. Is this what combat sports has become. Boxing can and must do better. One brutal perfectly timed right hand, can’t eradicate or hide a night that highlights plenty that is wrong with the sport.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing