The defeated general had to breathe oxygen after being knocked out by Anthony Joshua
Helenius was substituted just a few days before this fight, because Dillian Whyte was temporarily banned from playing for failing to pass a drug test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
This decision of Joshua's team caused him a lot of criticism, because Helenius is a poor martial artist. Moreover, this boxer just won the technical knock-out Mika Mielonen in the third round in Savonlinna, Finland on August 5, so only a week to prepare for the match against Joshua - time is considered not enough for a boxing fight. Top heavyweight.
The performance of the competition witnessed Joshua's superiority. According to CompuBox, the British boxer launched 204 hits, with 74 hits on target - reaching a rate of 36.3%. Helenius punched 173 punches, with 48 hits with accuracy, only reaching a rate of 27.7%. Joshua had 157 jabs, hit the target 56 times, reaching a rate of 35.7%. While, this figure for Helenius is only 27.1%, with 36 shots on target out of 133 hits. In addition, Joshua also has 18 accurate heavy blows, reaching a rate of 38.3%, compared to 12 and 30% of the opponent.
The difference came in the seventh round, when Joshua had two straight jabs and then hit a heavy right that sent Helenius to the floor. The referee immediately waved his hand, giving Joshua the knockout victory. According to British newspaper Sunsport, Helenius had to breathe oxygen before getting up to leave the ring.
This is Joshua's first knockout victory since defeating Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round of the ring in December 2020. After that, the British boxer received two consecutive defeats at the hands of Ukrainian opponent Oleksandr Usyk, lost four WBA (Super), WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight belts, and then defeated Jermaine Franklin by referee points in April 2023. Joshua's record is currently 26 wins and three defeats.
After defeating Helenius, Joshua with a bleeding face jumped out of the ring to celebrate with family and friends. Unlike the previous fights, the 33-year-old boxer did not speak extravagantly after the victory. "People need to leave me alone, this is my time in the ring," he told DAZN. "Let me continue to do what I want to do. I don't want to say much. I want to see you two more times this year."
Representatives of Saudi Arabia were in London this weekend to discuss Joshua's fight with Deontay Wilder, scheduled for January 2024, with showman Eddie Hearn.
"That's the fight we wanted," Hearn said in the ring. "We have a plan to fight with three, Helenius, Deontay Wilder and WBC champion Tyson Fury. That is the ambition of the team. Joshua is now a mature heavyweight and has had one of his knockout victories- out last year Helenius. Joshua is ready for bigger fights. He's playing smarter now, taking fewer risks."
According to British newspaper Sunsport, Joshua pocketed at least 10 million USD, and defeated General Helenius received about 2 million USD from this battle. Helenius received the fifth defeat of her career, after losing to Deontay Wilder, Gerald Washington, Dillian Whyte and Johann Duhaupas. The remaining boxer nicknamed "Nordic Nightmare" won 32 matches, including 21 knockout victories and 11 points.
