What is everyone saying about Anthony Joshua's performance against Robert Helenius?
When it comes to Anthony Joshua, everyone has a lot to say about the charismatic character that rose to super-stardom after collecting gold at the London 2012 Olympics. His trajectory continued skywards, reaching the pinnacle of professional boxing, just like he did as an amateur, until a disastrious U.S. debut in the summer of 2019 when unheralded Andy Ruiz Jr. decked the unbeaten world champion four times to score one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history, then a further two rather one-sided defeats followed at the hands of superior boxer Oleksandr Usyk to really highlight the former poster boy's shortcomings.
Even in victory against Jermaine Franklin, the Watford warrior was criticised heavily for not dealing with the tough American more clinically. But, last night, at the O2 Arena, a stunning seventh-round stoppage has got everyone talking again. Find out what they are saying below:
Audley Harrison: I liked the end – textbook jab to the body and right to the head. If he adds a little bounce to his movement, it's going to help him find his range quicker – he's a dangerous puncher, so you can't rule him out against Wilder of Fury."
Dev Sahni: "All jokes aside, what Anthony Joshua needed tonight was a highlight reel KO and that’s exactly what he got. It took a bit longer than most expected, but it got there and it will be the lasting memory from this fight. The heavyweight division benefits from a winning AJ."
George Groves: "Yeah it was a great knockout, so that'd be great for the socials. Good enough, you know, he looked a nit nervous, I thoughy, a bit taintive, and it took a little bit of a while to get going. Helenius wasn't great but he wasn't awful either so it's not one to assess really, but you can't bet your life on what's next off the back of that performance, but you can't say he's doing bad, but he also didn't set the world alight. But good for him, great knockout, spectacular knockout.
"It's still a pick 'em fight – Joshua-Wilder. You know, the best Wilder will certainly beat the Joshua tonight, but a better Joshua could beat a Wilder who can't pull the trigger on a shot, they've both got be on their A-game to get it right."
Malik Scott: "They was interviewing me while I was looking at the fight. It went up to the [seventh] round but before then, the story is that AJ was being patient, he wasn't trying to go for the knockout. That's the sales pitch. But I really look at it like he wasn't taking his chances early on. And that's a god thing, especially when you're next fight is possibly Deontay Wilder, who's the hardest puncher in the history of the sport. It's good for you to start practising not just fighting off your front foot. It's good for you to go into fights and say 'I need to take my time.'
"Was I really impressed besides the knockout? No. It actually makes me more confident in I know that he only has three or four rounds in the ring with Deontay before he gets knocked out."
Deontay Wilder: "I'm glad he got that [knockout]. We needed it done like that."
Josh Taylor: "Credit to Joshua. He's changed his team and surroundings and he's looking more loose, relaxed and fluent. I've never seen Joshua move so well."
Tim Rickson: "It was a stunning finish, and just what AJ needed to regain that confidence that was clearly missing after back to back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. I thought he lined up that shot perfectly, great footwork and the feint to the body. I hate to be a cynic, but I still wouldn't put him in with either Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury. I want to see both fights happen obviously, but I think Wilder would seriously hurt him. Of course, with knockout punches like that, AJ will always stand a chance of beating him, but i he takes one right hand from Wilder then it will be lights out.
"But it's great to see the old AJ back with that explosive power that he hasn't shown for a while."
Regis Prograis: "Big right hand knockout, taunt the crowd, then just walk out the ring. I like this Anthony Joshua."
Chris Eubank Jr: "He's back baby!!"
Conor McGregor: "You know, greatness don't rush. Took his time, he landed a big, heavy shot. I'm happy Helenius got up. The fans should be grateful for the Finnish coming, last-minute replacement, no fear, he came in and put in a great performance, he done himself proud and his team. Big congrats to AJ, big congrats to Eddie, big congrats to the UK."
Anthony Fowler (on AJ's celebration): "You know when you're fighting and you score a massive KO, it's a massive adrenalin rush, people can do mad things. If you've never been in the ring, you wouldn't get it, I thik Joshua is carrying a lot of frustration with him."
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