By Kenneth Friedman: Negotiations have been completed for a headliner fight between heavyweights Adam Kownacki and Robert Helenius on March 7 on PBC on FOX at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, says Mike Coppinger. Kownacki vs. Helenius should be interesting for as long as it lasts.
Kownacki (20-0, 15 KOs) had been in negotiations for a fight against former world title challenger Dominic Breazeale, but the fight didn’t happen. That would have been a better fight for fans, because Breazeale is still a viable contender. Kownacki is an entertaining heavyweight, but he can do better than this for a main event.
Kownacki struggled against Arreola and Charles Martin
#3 IBF, #3 WBO, #4 WBA, #8 WBC Kownacki is still waiting for a world title shot against one of the champions. He needs a win over a name fighter or to be put in a title eliminator to get him in position for a world title shot.
Kownacki hasn’t looked good recently in beating Chis Arreola and Charles Martin. Those were very tough fights for Kownacki, who looked exhausted in both of them. Arrreola threw 1125 punches in losing to Kownacki by a 12 round unanim
The Sweden born Helenius (29-3, 18 KOs) has lost three times in his 12-year professional career in defeats to Johann Duhaupas, Gerald Washington and Dillian Whyte. Helenius, 36, is coming off of a 2nd round knockout win over Mateus Roberto Osorio (9-5, 9 KOs) on November 30.
It looks like the handlers for Helenius are trying to keep his career going, but it’s going to be tough. The only fights that bring in good paydays are against the top contenders in the division. A world title shot for Helenius at this point is entirely out of the question. It’s not going to happen unless by chance one of the champions want to be charitable, and give Helenius a gift.
Kownacki likely to be big favorite
Like in most of Kownacki’s fights, he’ll be the favorite to beat Helenius. The 30-year-old Kownacki is the much younger guy than the 36-year-old Helenius, and he has less wear and tear on him. Although after Kownacki’s last fight against Arreola, I’m not sure if that’s the case.
Arreola landed a ton of shots, and you can argue that he landed with more power. Kownacki started out strong, but he punches lost steam on them by the midpoint in the fight. In the second half of the contest, Kownacki was throwing arm punches. Arreola was still throwing the straighter, harder blows.
The judges liked what they saw from Kownacki in giving him the victory by the scores 117-111, 117-111, 118-110. Arreola kind of exposed Kownacki in that fight in showing that he’s a blue collar level heavyweight.
