Media Review: Joshua vs. Helenius broadcast highlights DAZN’s priorities moving forward, while Hearn and Jordan have a planned and pointless argument

THE Anthony Joshua present rolls on – however for a way lengthy? This isn’t a query of how a lot Joshua has left as a fighter, however somewhat as a commodity. He stays one of the crucial marketable fighters on the planet, but it surely appears more and more seemingly that these heady nights of his peak are firmly behind us.

On Saturday evening he huffed and puffed earlier than ultimately doing what so many had paid to see him do: render poor Robert Helenius horizontal. The present, broadcast on DAZN, had all the trimmings of an ‘AJ’ occasion – pyrotechnics, celebrities at ringside, Sweet Caroline being performed 735 occasions – however there was an emptier really feel to it. Of course, this wasn’t the planned occasion; Helenius stepped in at a week’s discover after Joshua’s authentic opponent, Dillian Whyte, failed a drug take a look at.

And maybe it was due to the abysmal two fights previous the principle occasion, however by the point Helenius and ultimately Joshua made their method to the ring issues felt compelled. After Dereck Chisora stumbled to a resolution win over Gerald Washington, we nonetheless needed to endure evaluation and predictions from DAZN’s punditry crew, regardless of the actual fact it was previous 11pm and each Joshua and Helenius had been able to go, as proven by backstage footage on the broadcast.

This is a sin dedicated by each broadcaster in boxing, not simply DAZN. Rather than letting one battle circulate into the subsequent there may be at all times a stop-start schedule that’s deeply irritating.

That being stated, DAZN and the occasion organisers ought to be applauded for a way rapidly they pivoted to Helenius as an opponent. All of the battle branding and visuals on the evening had been modified apparently seamlessly; it regarded as if the Fin was the planned opponent all alongside.

And on commentary, the DAZN crew didn’t attempt to pull the wool over our eyes (an excessive amount of). While Chisora and Washington floundered at one another, Mike Costello and Andy Lee made it fairly clear that, whatever the outcome, neither man would maintain a lot relevance within the heavyweight division. That, after all, raises the query of why this battle was chief help within the first place.

In some methods, the broadcast highlighted what DAZN’s priorities at the moment are. More time was spent on cringe-inducing interviews with KSI and Conor McGregor than discussing the wonderful conflict between Sunny Edwards and Jesse Rodriguez, set for Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena on December 16, that had solely simply been introduced.

Then, throughout the principle occasion as Joshua regarded ponderous for six and a half rounds, they had been extra essential of him than maybe any commentary crew has been earlier than – and they weren’t being unfair. While Tony Bellew continued to insist Joshua was purposely banking rounds in opposition to Helenius, Lee fairly rightly challenged him on that and questioned whether or not it was extra a case of Joshua taking too lengthy to seek out the solutions to what had been somewhat easy questions being posed by Helenius. He questioned aloud why Joshua wasn’t pulling the set off when Helenius backed himself in opposition to the ropes in the course of the battle.

Joshua ultimately produced the highlight-reel end we had been all anticipating, however Costello and Lee had been nonetheless asking the best questions. The one factor they did skim over was simply how marked up Joshua was by the point the battle completed – each eyes had swelling and blood gushed from his nostril. He shouldn’t be taking that form of punishment from somebody like Helenius.

And when it got here for his flip to speak, Joshua was – as we’ve now come to count on – simply a bit bizarre. When requested about a battle with Deontay Wilder, he made a poorly executed joke about how he’s injured his again from “carrying the heavyweight division.” He appears genuinely fed up with the criticism and questions he consistently has to face, and it’s exhausting responsible him. The stage of scrutiny he’s been beneath since successful his first ‘world’ title is sort of unprecedented, notably within the UK.

Still, on we go. Joshua says he desires to battle two extra occasions this yr, which appears unlikely. But he’s proper in insisting that he wants to remain energetic, and at the very least yet one more look earlier than 2023 involves a shut would make a lot of sense. Wilder is, after all, the specified opponent however there was a distinct lack of push for that conflict on this broadcast.

And if that battle is made, it gained’t simply be the Joshua present. It will likely be a battle followers have been determined for, regardless of the outcomes that have gone in opposition to both man. Joshua is not going to have the stress of carrying the occasion on his personal; he’ll have an adversary greater than prepared to supply drama each within the build-up and within the ring. Perhaps then we’ll get a a lot clearer image of who Joshua is as a fighter at this stage in his profession, in a battle the place he’s free from the stress of attempting to avenge a loss or going through somebody he’s anticipated to destroy.

Last week, Eddie Hearn joined talkSPORT for a reside interview that was mainly billed as a planned argument with presenter Simon Jordan. This isn’t the primary time they’ve clashed on air and each have been very essential of one another previously, but it surely appeared as if Hearn was introduced on for the only objective of bickering with Jordan.

It was mean-spirited and completely pointless. It’s baffling that Jordan thought he might prevail in a confrontation with Hearn, and much more complicated as to why Hearn thought-about this a worthwhile endeavour. There was discuss of agendas and schemes to undermine Hearn, and the pair took goal at each other’s backgrounds.

Yes, we’re concerned in a sport designed round punching one another, however do we actually have to be so hostile?

Boxing on the Box

August 18

Dennis McCann-Ionut Baluta

TNT Sports

Coverage begins at 7pm

August 19

Nestor Bravo-Will Madera

DAZN
Coverage begins at 2am

Galal Yafai-Tommy Frank

DAZN

Coverage begins at 7pm