Anthony Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have effectively confirmed that Deontay Wilder will be the heavyweight’s next opponent early next year. Although the fight is yet to be signed and sealed, ‘AJ’ can now turn his attention towards a high-stakes Saudi match-up after knocking out Robert Helenius.
Joshua was subjected to a late change of plans this weekend when his original opponent, Dillian Whyte, was forced to pull out of their O2 Arena contest after returning ‘adverse findings’ from a random drugs test.
Despite fighting only last weekend, 39-year-old Helenius stepped in at extremely short notice to take Whyte’s place. The towering Finn lasted seven rounds with the former WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion before a devastating right hand saw him tumble to the canvas.
After the fight, which was attended by Saudi Arabia officials amid rumours of AJ’s next contest being held in the Middle East, the Brit was asked whether a fight 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 important these days, not protecting your 0 or worrying about anything. Just fighting the best and giving it your best. It’s not easy to get these big fights over the line but I’ve got trust in my team.
“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 record to 26 wins and three defeats, while it was also the 33-year-old’s first knockout victory since dispatching Kubrat Pulev in 2020. Wilder’s most recent fight was also against Helenius, whom he knocked out in the first round.
The American former WBC heavyweight champion has only ever lost to Tyson Fury, and his devastating knockout power will ensure Joshua is subjected to a dangerous test.
“I think he can beat Deontay Wilder comfortably but he can also be beaten by Wilder,” said Hearn on Saturday night. “Everything we’re hearing from every side is that the fight is going ahead.”
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