LONDON — Anthony Joshua is confident a potential fight with Deontay Wilder will happen soon and insists he continues to carry the heavyweight division.
Joshua sent a warning shot to rival Wilder with his own brutal knockout of Robert Helenius.
Joshua claimed the 26th victory of his professional career with a thunderous seventh-round stoppage of last-minute opponent Helenius at London’s O2 Arena.
Wilder believes Joshua’s knockout victory over Helenius was ‘needed’ in the build-up to their likely January superfight in Saudi Arabia, according to his head coach, Malik Scott.
‘He [Wilder] was like “we needed that”. We both said the same thing because at first it was looking like it was getting ready to go the distance,’ he told the October Red YouTube channel.
‘So when the knockout came I called him on FaceTime and he was like, “I’m glad he got that, we needed it done just like that.”
‘So we’re both satisfied, the fight is bigger to me than it was because of the knockout, so shoutout to AJ to going out there and getting the job done.’
‘Most of all a shoutout to Robert Helenius. It takes a lot of courage to get in that ring with real killers especially on short notice, on long notice, whatever it is.’
Scott said that he and the Bronze Bomber are satisfied that AJ got his victory because it raises the stakes for their own bout – even if Wilder’s camp is more than confident of victory.
The crowd was up on their feet after one minute and 27 seconds of round seven, but this contest was always a stepping stone to an eagerly-anticipated clash with ex-WBC belt-holder Wilder.
Discussions between the camps of Joshua and Wilder continue to take place with Saudi Arabia’s promotional company Skills Challenge looking to host the bout between former champions in January or February.
“Any time is a good time to fight. It could have been Wilder eight years ago or Wilder now. It doesn’t matter,” Joshua insisted.
“It is only a fight and boxing wins so roll on really. There is no worry to me when it is.
“I am just happy we can get the fight going and I think people appreciate that I am doing my best to keep heavyweight boxing on the map.
“Yeah, we’re carrying heavyweight boxing. I have believed that for years I have played my part in bringing entertainment to heavyweight boxing.
“That is why you are asking about the Wilder fight. I am not comparing what it could have been, I’m just happy that we’re getting this fight under way potentially soon because it does great for boxing I think.
“For me, it is just another fight. I can’t get caught up in the hype and the build-up, what it means to people. For me I have to go in there as a gladiator, right?
“A gladiator doesn’t worry about what it means to other people, he just goes to fight. Take it from my aspect as a fighter, I am training to fight someone and hurt someone.
“I have no interest in what people think of me in the future. All I have an interest in is taking this guy out one way or another. That is just where my head is at.”
“We’ll look back in years to come and think, ‘look at that era, that guy fought everyone,’ and that’s what is important. Not protecting you zero. It is about fighting the best and giving your best.”
There is no guessing who Joshua’s final sentence was aimed at with fellow Briton Tyson Fury set to take on UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh on October 28.
Joshua would have celebrated a decade in the pro ranks that month and despite not holding any belts for nearly two years, he is confident his team can strike a deal with Wilder’s camp.
He said: “I don’t feel pressure any more. Remember I am not a heavyweight champion; I leave that to the other guys. I am just a contender trying to make my way.
“It is not easy to get these fights over the line; he (Wilder) didn’t fight Andy Ruiz Jr. It is not easy to get these fights over but I have got full trust in my team.
“They’ve taken me a long way to become unified two-time heavyweight champion of the world. We collected belt after belt. Four of the five major belts. IBO, IBF, WBO, WBA.
“We collected all them belts, defended them multiply times, done great business, stadium fights, fought in American, Saudi.
“My team is amazing so I put all my faith in them to deliver. We’ve just got to hope the other team play ball.”
Joshua was quick to credit trainer Derrick James for his first knock-out victory in three years.
In only their second fight together and after dealing with Dillian Whyte’s late withdrawal, James reiterated to his tutelage to keep “shooting the right” and it helped to produce the money shot before midnight in England’s capital.
While frustration had started to grow over Joshua failing to consistently engage with Helenius, who had suffered a vicious first-round loss to Wilder in New York last October, the Finchley boxer was comfortable with his tactics.
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