Anthony Joshua returned to the ring on Saturday night and made a statement with a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius. Joshua, who was originally scheduled to face Dillian Whyte, looked sharp in his first fight since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021. He landed a powerful right hand in the seventh round that sent Helenius to the canvas, and the referee stopped the fight immediately.
After the fight, Joshua called out Deontay Wilder, saying that he wants to fight the former WBC heavyweight champion next. "I want Deontay Wilder next," Joshua said. "That's the fight I want. Let's get it on."
Wilder is a dangerous opponent for Joshua. He is a powerful puncher with a knockout percentage of 95%. However, Joshua has the size, speed, and skills to give Wilder problems. If Joshua can avoid Wilder's power punches, he has a good chance of winning this fight.
A fight between Joshua and Wilder would be a huge event. Both fighters are former world heavyweight champions with big fan bases. It would be a battle of two of the biggest punchers in the division. The winner of this fight would be in a great position to challenge for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
It remains to be seen if Wilder will accept Joshua's challenge. Wilder has been out of the ring since losing to Tyson Fury in October 2021. He has been linked to a fight with Andy Ruiz Jr., but it is unclear if he will be ready to fight Joshua in the near future.
If Wilder does accept the challenge, this fight could happen in early 2024. It would be a huge event and a great opportunity for both fighters to prove themselves.