Britain’s Anthony Joshua needed seven rounds to beat Finland’s Robert Helenius on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.

Anthony Joshua defeated Robert Helenius by knockout in the seventh round

At the age of 39, Helenius was chosen at the last minute to replace Britain’s Dillian Whyte, who withdrew due to an “unfavorable” doping test.

The Finn, who has 32 wins and 4 losses in his professional career, suffered a first-round loss to American Deontay Wilder in October.

He avoided a repeat of that humiliating incident on Saturday when Joshua played cautiously, so cautiously that in the third period boos could be heard from the stands of Archipelago Hall at Arena 02.

But soon in the same round, a powerful left hook followed by a front right from Joshua spelled the end for Helenius, despite a good jab that rocked the Brit in the 4th round.

The Finn finished the fifth round with a bloody nose. He then survived the sixth round, although Joshua hit him with a phenomenal uppercut. In the end, Joshua gave his fans the show they came for, defeating Helenius with a powerful right in the 7th round.

Helenius was briefly knocked unconscious but eventually got up before touching his 33-year-old opponent’s gloves as a sign of respect, News.ro reported.