Just as the faithful were beginning to wish they had applied for a refund, Anthony Joshua threw that trademark right hand to dig himself out of a trough of wary tedium.
That throwback to the old big-bang Joshua also pulled out of the mire the $80 million fight with Deontay, Wilder scheduled for January in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi paymasters of so much world sport these days were given the bare minimum of reassurance that their money will be well spent.
Joshua did what he was supposed to do by reducing substitute opponent Robert Helenius to a crumpled wreck in the seventh at the 02.
It took him six rounds longer than Wilder’s minute and a bit demolition of this giant Finn last October.
Anthony Joshua beat Robert Helenius after knocking him out in the seventh round of the bout
Joshua celebrates the win as he stays on track for a future fight with Deontay Wilder
The two fighters were involved in a slow start that saw whistles and boos from the crowd
But at least catastrophe was averted and the grinding bore of a 12-round slog averted. This was Joshua’s first KO triumph in three years and only the second since 2018. Just in time.
It quelled a groundswell of jeers as the first half of the fight expired in slow motion wariness from both big men. The crowd were not ecstatic at the end even though the end was dramatic.
Joshua believes he can win a third world heavyweight title. The jury is still out on that but he may have bought himself time to make a closing argument in the court of public opinion.
While the wait goes on for Joshua, Wilder, Usyk and Fury to fight each other, veteran Helenius came in at a week’s notice and proved he was awkward.
Helenius was insisting he had one last shock detonation in him despite being 39. That provided enough curiosity for a steady trickle of the AJ faithful to fill much of the arena.
That put the onus on Joshua to reward the loyalty — as well as to prolong his own career. But there were boos for Joshua’s caution in the third round as Helenius pecked and poked and Joshua laboured. The first signs of Joshua loosening the shackles came with a couple of glancing rights to win the fourth session.
In the fifth Joshua brought the crowd into play with a left hook which wobbled Helenius but still Joshua was failing to stamp his superiority. A cat and mouse sixth round was shared on my card.
But finally Joshua gave the crowd —including ringsider Conor McGregor — what they came for in the seventh round with a thunderous right hand that caught Helenius with his back to the ropes.
Helenius proved to be an awkward opponent in the early goings for Anthony Joshua
There was some concern over Helenius but the Finnish fighter did get back to his feet
There was initially some concern for Helenius and Joshua left the ring to celebrate with the spectators, but his opponent was later able to sit up after becoming the 26th boxer to taste defeat against Joshua.
When asked whether he was under pressure to get a KO because Wilder had knocked Helenius out in the first, AJ said: ‘I think people need to leave me alone. It’s my time in the ring. This is my moment.
‘It’s a fickle sport, you’ve got to be real about this industry and not get caught up. I’ve done my job.’
On Helenius, he said: ‘The guy has talent. I had to figure him out. I think he can cause a lot of people problems but I don’t want to say too much. Hopefully I see you again. I need to stay busy.’
When asked about the upcoming fight with Wilder, he quipped: ‘I’ve got a back issue. My back is gone because I have to carry this heavyweight division to the top’.