Anthony Joshua sips Conor McGregor’s Guinness after knocking out Robert Helenius

Anthony Joshua sipped Conor McGregor’s Guinness following his win at the O2 on Saturday night, but ignored the UFC legend as he walked away.

It came after Joshua defeated Robert Helenius, who came on as a short-term replacement for Dillian Whyte after a failed drug test, by knockout in the seventh round.

McGregor was seen in the ring after the fight holding his pint to a dazed looking Joshua’s lips.

The boxer happily took a sip, but ignored McGregor as he turned and walked out of the ring.

He later replied to embrace Helenius, who was given oxygen by medics after a cathartic battle.

While it may not have been a vintage display from Joshua, the win was an important one as he secured a first knockout victory since 2020.

It was only the fourth time Helenius had been knocked out in 37 fights, but some critics still felt Joshua boxed cautiously.

The two-time heavyweight champion told DAZN after the win, “People should leave me alone, this is my time in the ring. Let me keep doing what I want to do.

‘Helenius, I told him to come again. I think he can cause people a lot of trouble. I don’t want to say too much. I want to see you two more times this year.’

His promoter Eddie Hearn added on BBC 5 Live: ‘The man (Helenius) is six feet tall, he can hit a bit, AJ doesn’t want to take any chances.

“This is the AJ you’re about to see, no chance. Much is at stake. The late substitution was difficult, but I’m just happy he delivered the Knockout of the Year.’

On the prospect of a fight against Deontay Wilder later this year, Hearn added: ‘We hope it is imminent. That’s why he wanted the Dillian Whyte fight, it’s hard for him to take fights like this.

“If he hits Wilder on the chin, it’s over. Now this is about Anthony Joshua, it’s not about pleasing others. He gave everything to British boxing.”