Helenius vs. Dimitrenko a possibility for Povetkin-Boswell undercard on December 3rd

By Boxing News - 10/18/2011 - Comments

Image: Helenius vs. Dimitrenko a possibility for Povetkin-Boswell undercard on December 3rdBy Eric Thomas: A fight between EBU heavyweight champion Alexander Dimitrenko (32-1, 21 KO’s) and unbeaten heavyweight contender Robert Helenius (16-0, 11 KO’s) is rumored to be in the works for the December 3rd undercard of the title fight between WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin and 42-year-old challenger Cedric Boswell in Helsinki, Finland.

The Helenius-Dimitrenko fight would be perfect for the card, as Helenius comes from nearby Sweden and he can pull in fans from there as well as Finland. The fight card certainly needs something to attract interest from fans because the fight between Povetkin and his number #14 ranked contender Boswell is a hopeless mismatch and no one is even remotely interested in seeing this title milking fight for Povetkin.

Helenius, 27, is ranked #1 WBO, #3 WBA, #3 IBF and #8 WBC, is considered one of the best contenders in the division as of now. He could have gotten a title shot against one of the Klitschko brothers but he and his management feels he needs a little more time before he’s thrown out there with the much better skilled Klitschkos.

Putting Helenius in with Dimitrenko would be a great transition fight for him, though, because Dimitrenko has a style very similar to Wladimir, albeit without the handspeed, power or the crushing jab. In part it would give Helenius an idea of what he’ll be up against when and if he ever faces Wladimir.

Dimitrenko is tall at 6’7″, and this would be a fight where the 6’6 1/2″ Helenius would be facing someone bigger than him for the first time in his career. It’s a risk for him because he’s been able to dominate at a distance against shorter foes and he won’t be able to do this with Dimitrenko, who has a four inch reach advantage over the big Swede. Helenius has the much better power, but he mostly throws with big power in close. If Dimitrenko keeps the fight to the outside this could be a very difficult fight for Helenius to win.



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