Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius results, highlights, updates as ...

Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua claimed he is "carrying the division" after knocking out late replacement Robert Helenius at London's O2 Arena to further his ambitions of a bout with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in January.

Joshua poleaxed veteran Helenius, who had taken the fight at seven days' notice, with an overhand right against the ropes midway through the seventh round, causing the towering Finn to require oxygen as the Briton bounded out of the ring to celebrate his first knockout victory since 2020 with supporters including UFC fighter Conor McGregor.

"I'm going to carry this heavyweight division to the top," Joshua told DAZN after another curiously hesitant performance following his unconvincing points win against Jermaine Franklin in the same arena in April.

"People need to leave me alone and let me do what I want. This is my time in the ring. People need to let me breathe."

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, reiterated that Saudi Arabian representatives had attended the fight with the intention of discussing a meeting between the 33-year-old and Wilder, the long-serving WBC champion before his dethroning in the first of his two defeats to Tyson Fury in 2020 and 2021.

Although the closing shot was spectacular, only the most ardent Joshua supporter would assert his showing as a sure sign that he is ready to beat one of the most feared punchers in the sport within the next six months.

"Whether you think he can do it or not, he's now a mature heavyweight," said Hearn, outlining a "three-fight plan" for his best-known client of Helenius, Wilder and a long-anticipated clash with the unbeaten Fury.

"It's the fight we want. He delivered a knockout of the year and we believe he can win that fight. He's ready for marquee fights."

Before Joshua took to the ring, Johnny Fisher won the British Southern Area title with a stamina-testing seventh-round knockout of Harry Armstrong, who did commendably to recover from an immediate first-round knockdown.

Derek Chisora took a unanimous decision win over Gerald Washington in a contest demonstrating the toll the years of hard-hitting look to have taken on two men with a combined age of 80, and Filip Hrgovic remained the IBF mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk, eventually knocking out Demsey McKean with a 12th-round right hook.

Campbell Hatton, the 22-year-old son of former world champion Ricky, opened the main card by going eight rounds for the first time on his way to beating Tom Ansell in a lightweight showdown.

More to follow

WATCH: Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius highlights on DAZN

Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius results, highlights

All times BST

Round 7: Anthony Joshua knocks out Robert Helenius with a thunderous right hand!

It's a first knockout win for Joshua in four fights and almost three years, and he bounds off to the side of the ring as Helenius falls against the ropes and down to the canvas, receiving oxygen once he's back up.

Joshua has a chat with ringside admirers including Conor McGregor. Once he returns to the ring, he embraces Helenius, who exchanges a some warm words with him during a prolonged conversation.

Round 6: Anthony Joshua attempts to move Robert Helenius back at the start of the sixth, then lands with a jab. He's not using the feints he deployed towards the end of the fifth round.

Helenius is perhaps showing signs of tiring. Joshua winds him with a jab to the body, but seems to relent just when he looks like he's about to unload.

These are decent tactics from Helenius, who doesn't look liable to saunter onto the kind of shot that did for him when he was flattened by Deontay Wilder in a round.

TSN unofficial scorecard: Anthony Joshua 10-9 Robert Helenius (59-55)

Round 5: A left hook and right hand to the body almost have Robert Helenius pinned, but the 6ft 9in giant shows his wiliness again, almost kneeling as he makes his way out of the knot.

Helenius doesn't look short of confidence, trying with a sharp right, then taking a left hook as he treads forward after Anthony Joshua misses with an attempted winging body shot.

The older man won't get caught in the mixer. He's breathing heavily in his corner as he takes instructions in between bells. Whoomp! (There It Is) by Tag Team rings out.

TSN unofficial scorecard: Anthony Joshua 10-9 Robert Helenius (49-46)

Round 4: Robert Helenius does well to hold on as Anthony Joshua lands with a left and another right with two minutes remaining in the fourth round. Helenius ties him up, using his experience.

Helenisu attempts to flick out a left jab. Joshua, again, tries to close the distance, teeing off with a left before stepping back.

Joshua has that troublesome eye iced in the corner at the end of the round.

TSN unofficial scorecard: Anthony Joshua 10-9 Robert Helenius (39-37)

Round 3: Trainer Derrick tells Anthony Joshua to take his time and not to open up. Joshua winks at him before returning to his feet.

Joshua attempts three left-hand jabs, Robert Helenius backing off each time. Helenius tries a right, then a left to the body.

Joshua, who has a marked left eye, tries to corner Helenius during the closing minute of the round, landing to the jaw with a decent right hand which sets Helenius, who was retreating, off balance rather than genuinely askew. Joshua fails to follow up with anything meaningful.

TSN unofficial scorecard: Anthony Joshua 10-9 Robert Helenius (29-28)

Round 2: "I've known Helenius since the amateur days and I know he doesn't like pressure," says Andy Lee on analytical duties for DAZN.

Robert Helenius finds Anthony Joshua's chin with a left-hand job, then gets caught on his beard with a right hand.

Not much to read into this round, although Helenius will take encouragement - as will Joshua's critics - from the Finn going more than twice as far as he did against Deontay Wilder.

TSN unofficial scorecard: Anthony Joshua 10-9 Robert Helenius (19-19)

Round 1: Robert Helenius doesn't look unduly daunted, feinting and coming forward. At one stage he finds himself on the end of a sharp jab, but he lands himself with two body shots and doesn't appear shy to let his hands go.

As the round ends, Helenius widens his hands and beckons Joshua on, nodding his head forward. Joshua wants to step within range against his former sparring partner but hasn't managed to effectively yet.

TSN unofficial scorecard: Anthony Joshua 9-10 Robert Helenius (9-10)

11.20 p.m.: Robert Helenius kisses a glove and lifts it to the sky as the first bell rings! Joshua takes to the centre first.

11.15 p.m.: Robert Helenius, in a black t-shirt, plots a no-frills path to the ring before a live violinist launches Anthony Joshua's entrance.

He's in a red-and-white robe as Faithless' Insomnia rings out to welcome him onto the canvas. Here comes the main event!

Here's how the numbers add up ahead of the main event ????#JoshuaHelenius | @WilliamHill pic.twitter.com/vYIgD1ljBD

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023

11.05 p.m.: KSI has had a chat with DAZN about his forthcoming fight – and he's not in the mood to mince his words.

"I cannot wait to destroy Tommy Fury on October the 14th," the internet sensation says. "A YouTuber is going to knock out Tommy Fury and there's nothing you can do about it.

"It depends which round I want. Tommy Fury is the boxer; he's the man everybody thinks is going to beat me. It's actually up to me.

"When I grab your big fat head and constantly, repeatedly hit you with that right hand, it's night-night buddy – your legacy is done and I will be the ultimate crossover boxing champion of all time."

He then tells the crowd: "You can boo all you want. Boo me."

10.53 p.m.: Derek Chisora beats Gerald Washington by unanimous decision! It wasn't a fight to live long in the memory between two entertainers who looked their combined 80 years.

Chisora, typically, kept coming forward, taking some heavy shots along the way. After taking a 10-round battering from Tyson Fury last year, you wonder how much more cumulative punishment Chisora can take. But he'll likely fancy more as a result of this win.

Two BIG men trading leather ????#JoshuaHelenius pic.twitter.com/Wo4Q3d6a32

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023

10.40 p.m.: Conor McGregor's been having a fun evening at the O2, by the looks of it. The most high-profile MMA fighter in the world has been meeting fellow fighters including boxer Ebanie Bridges.

10.25 p.m.: Not long until this man headlines the card!

10.15 p.m.: This is a scrappy slugfest between Gerald Washington and Derek Chisora, the man in pink troubled by a right eye problem. He continues to wing in shots but takes a right hook flush from Washington, who's also been persistently seeking the right uppercut.

Conor Benn's among the crowd.

10.05 p.m.: With 41-year-old Gerald Washington already in the ring, Derek Chisora - two years his opponent's junior - makes his way to the ring to a rapturous reception, clad in pink.

Eagles' Hotel California is Del Boy's walk-on anthem.

9.55 p.m.: Up next: home fighter Derek Chisora (pictured) against Gerald Washington. The American is about to make his way to the ring.

9.43 p.m.: Filip Hrgovic knocks out Demsey McKean with a minute remaining of the 12th round!

It was an uninspired performance by Hrgovic but he ultimately retains his IBF mandatory challenger status - in line for Oleksandr Usyk - in style, finding a right hook to sway McKean against the ropes before taking him out.

9.30 p.m.: Two-time UFC champion Conor McGregor is here!

Here he comes @TheNotoriousMMA ????????#JoshuaHelenius pic.twitter.com/lk3sPVlIzw — DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023

9.10 p.m.: "He needs a good response – or a good round," former middleweight world champion Andy Lee tells DAZN about Demsey McKean just as Filip Hrgovic lands with an overhand right in a fight he has largely controlled.

A minute left in round four. McKean has had reasonable success boxing on the outside but can't seem to evade Hrgovic's right hand.

8.55 p.m.: Johnny Fisher knockout, anyone?

"I know I've got that instinct in me," Romford's finest told DAZN afterwards. "I can keep digging in deep. That's going to stand me in good stead for the future."  

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023

8.45 p.m.: An enticing contest up next: Filip Hrgovic - who some slated as a stand-in opponent for Anthony Joshua - against Demsey McKean.

8.35 p.m.: Epic end to Johnny Fisher's meaty scrap with Harry Armstrong! Fisher connects, from seemingly nowhere, with a series of shuddering right hands. One of his huge overhands wobbles Armstrong against the ropes and somehow doesn't send him down.

What a chin Armstrong has. He's bloodied but not beaten until the towel rightly comes in, and takes oxygen on his stool after providing a brave test of Fisher's stamina.

Then he returns to his feet and has his hand raised by Fisher in a show of respect before the official result is confirmed.

8.25 p.m.: Anthony Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, was interviewed before this fight.

Hearn claimed a clash with Deontay Wilder is being targeted for Saudi Arabia in January. "The Saudis are here tonight to make that fight," he told DAZN. "We've got a three-fight plan that goes Helenius, Wilder and Fury."

Meanwhile, here's that flattener from Fisher a little earlier.

WHAT A START FROM @JohnnyFisherBox ????#JoshuaHelenius pic.twitter.com/k5K2JZbLbk

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023

8.20 p.m.: Huge credit to Harry Armstrong in this southern area heavyweight title bout, who's held his own since being put down by Johnny Fisher right at the start of the fight.

As we enter round four, Armstrong has only landed one fewer punch than Fisher's 21.

8.05 p.m.: What a start from Johnny Fisher, who's clearly buoyed by that reception as he knocks Harry Armstrong down immediately! A straight right hand and left hook do the damage, among a barrage of shots in a corner.

Armstrong recovers and looks surprisingly stable, considering the concussive look of that knockdown. He goes on to apply pressure as the round ends.

8 p.m.: You know who's heading for the ring when you hear Take Me Home, Country Roads sung by a large crowd.

The hugely popular Johnny Fisher - known as The Romford Bull - makes his way to centre stage!

7.48 p.m.: Campbell Hatton remains unbeaten in all 13 of his professional fights! The 22-year-old was taken a distance he's never been before by Tom Hansell, having secured knockout wins in both of his previous eight-rounders.

There's not a great deal of ceremony as Hatton's arm is raised. Job done, and he'll doubtless regard this as a valuable experience.

"I'd fight someone off the streets," says Anthony Joshua in a pre-recorded interview. "Robert Helenius is credible. He was realistic."

Eight rounds in the bank and another win for @CampbellHatton ????#JoshuaHelenius pic.twitter.com/ie6NkncRhU

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023

7.40 p.m.: Campbell Hatton has started the action tonight. In his familiar Manchester City-embroidered shorts, he's currently midway through the seventh round of his bout with Tom Ansell.

Finding the target ????#JoshuaHelenius pic.twitter.com/4BQBHgawce

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 12, 2023

7.20 p.m.: Tonight's headliners shared at least 16 rounds with each other as sparring partners in 2017. "AJ is a beast but I'm a nightmare," Robert Helenius said of their time in the ring.

7 p.m.: At around the time that he beat Derek Chisora in 2011, Robert Helenius has said he was dodged by Wladmir Klitschko – the dominant force in the division at the time.

"I would really have liked to fight him but they also told me back then that he didn't want to fight me,” Helenius told Sky Sports in 2020.

“I don't know why. I think I was very, very close. I was number six on [statistics site] Boxrec] and I was number one challenger for his belt back then."

Helenius was unbeaten at the time and continued his perfect record for 22 fights before being knocked out in the sixth round by Johann Duhaupas in Helsinki in 2016, when he challenged for a version of the WBC title.

6.40 p.m.: “It's not a case of if Joshua wins, but when,” predicts my esteemed colleague Tom Gray, whose words on boxing are always an excellent read.

“As a barometer for how AJ may get the job done here, it's probably best to look at the Wilder fight. While Joshua doesn't punch as hard as 'The Bronze Bomber', he still has 22 knockouts in 25 wins and can crack with both hands.”

Read Tom’s full prediction on sportingnews.com.

6.20 p.m.: It might not have ended well when Robert Helenius later fought Deontay Wilder, but the sparring sessions between the pair before the fighter known as ‘The Nordic Nightmare’ took on Erkan Teper in Germany in 2018 appear to have gone well.

“Big thank you to Wilder and his crew for a fantastic camp,” Helenius said at the time, proceeding to win the vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title.

Alas, Helenius was knocked out in the eighth round by Gerald Washington in his subsequent fight. Washington will tonight face Derek Chisora, who Helenius beat via split decision in Helsinki in 2011.

6 p.m.: Hello everyone and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Joshua vs. Helenius. 

The main card starts at 7 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET). 

When is Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius?

The Joshua vs. Helenius main card starts at 7 p.m. local time, which is 2 p.m. ET. Both fighters should make their way to the ring around 10:15 p.m. BST (5:15 p.m. ET), depending on how long the undercard fights last. Here's how that translates to different timezones globally: 

Region Date Main Card Start Time Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) USA and Canada (ET) Saturday, August 12 2 p.m. ET 5:15 p.m. ET USA and Canada (PT) Saturday, August 12 11 a.m. PT 2:15 p.m. PT UK and Ireland Saturday, August 12 7 p.m. BST 10:15 p.m. BST Australia Sunday, August 13 4 a.m. AEST 7:15 a.m. AEST How to watch Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius Region TV channel Live streaming USA — DAZN Canada — DAZN UK and Ireland DAZN 1 HD DAZN Australia — DAZN

The Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius fight card will be available via DAZN. It will no longer be a PPV in the U.K.

WATCH: Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius, live on DAZN

Now available as a Sky channel, DAZN 1 HD is exclusive to Sky.

Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius price: How much does the card cost? DAZN monthly subscription: $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $24.99 month-to-month in U.S. / $24.99 per month in Canada / £9.99 in the U.K. on a 12-month contract or £19.99 month-to-month / 13.99 AUD DAZN annual subscription: $224.99 in U.S., $199.99 in Canada, £99.99 in the U.K. Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius results Anthony Joshua def. Robert Helenius by 7th round KO; Heavyweights Filip Hrgovic def. Demsey McKean by 12th round KO; Heavyweights Derek Chisora vs. Gerald Washington; Heavyweights Johnny Fisher def. Harry Armstrong by 7th round KO; Heavyweights Campbell Hatton def. Tom Ansell on points; Heavyweights Maisey Rose Courtney def. Gemma Ruegg on points; Super Flyweights George Liddard def. Radek Rousal on points; Middleweights Brandon Scott def. Louis Norman on points; Super Featherweights