Anthony Joshua scores a knock out victory over Robert helenius at the 7th round.

Anthony Joshua had proclaimed that he “could not fail” against late, late replacement 39-year-old Robert Helenius and the former two-time heavyweight world champion kept his career on course with a vicious right hand seventh round knockout to claim victory.

Momentarily, there were concerns over the Finnish fighter in the ring, but he was soon up on his feet. Joshua, relieved no doubt, leapt up onto the ring ropes to celebrate a sensational finish.

After a difficult period in which Joshua was rebuilding after losing his world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk - who defeated him for a second time on points in their rematch in Saudi Arabia last August - the Londoner was expected to make the weight of his heavy punches explode for a dramatic, statement triumph. There can be no question that this result here amidst a cacophony of noise will have helped the rebuild for now.

Joshua had, in the seven rounds of action, worked largely behind the jab, intent on leaving out combinations until that powerful finale.

Helenius, for his part, was composed in the opening round with Joshua working on finding his range, and in the second Joshua landed with a big jab and right hand.

Joshua jabbed his way through the third round, before landing a good right hand. After landing a big right hand in the fourth, the Finn sinking into the ropes, and the pattern continued through the fifth, though Joshua was single punching rather than combinations. Joshua controlled the contest with single punches, until a huge, booming right hand detonated and felled his foe dramatically.