By Jim Calfa: Replacement opponent Robert Helenius (32-4, 21 KOs) predicts he will shake up the heavyweight division by upsetting Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) this Saturday night.
If Joshua loses this fight, his showdown with Deontay Wilder will be off. Those two are supposed to fight in January in Saudi Arabia, but it won’t happen if AJ loses to the big-punching Helenius.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says he wanted to use Agit Kabayel as Joshua’s opponent, but his asking price was too much. If Joshua gets knocked out on Saturday by Helenius, Hearn could have some regret.
Helenius has been brought in on one week’s notice to replace Dillian Whyte as the opponent for former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua at the 20,000-seat O2 Arena in London.
Despite his lack of preparation for Joshua’s style, Helenious feels he’ll be ready for Joshua in their twelve round fight on regular DAZN.
Joshua will have a big advantage in hand speed & amateur pedigree over Helenius, and most boxing fans feel this will play a huge factor in the fight.
Helenius looked slow last Saturday night, stopping 41-year-old Mika Mielonen (6-1, 6 KOs) in the third round in Finland. Helenius didn’t throw many jabs as he slowly walked forward, fired power shots, and bludgeoned the inexperienced Mielonen.
“That’s my plan, and that’s why I’m here,” said Robert Helenius to Fight Hub TV about his goal to shake up the heavyweight division by defeating Anthony Joshua.
“This means everything because I’ve been chasing world champion for fifteen years. I’ve not gotten there. I’ve had some injuries here and there. I’ve gotten big fights. In 2009, I knocked out Samuel Peter, Lamon Brewster, and Siarhei Liakhovich, but I’ve had a bad injury and have been long away.”
If Helenius wins, he’d still need to defeat IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, or WBC champ Tyson Fury for him to become champ.
After losing his four belts to Usyk in September 2021, Joshua is no longer a world champion, and it’s questionable whether he will ever be again.
“I’ve been in this game for a long time, and I think this is my golden ticket. Derek Chisora is going to be surprised. I’m going to beat Anthony Joshua on Saturday night,” said Helenius when told that the British journeyman Dereck Chisora is predicting Joshua defeats him by a third round knockout.
You can overlook Chisora’s predictions because Joshua is his friend, so he’s obviously biased. However, common sense would tell you that this is Joshua’s fight to lose.
“He’s a good guy, and he has his heart in the right place, and I have much respect for him,” said Helenius when asked for his reaction to Deontay Wilder crying after he knocked him out last October.
“The fight didn’t go well for me. I’d been training for that fight for one year, but this is boxing, and this stuff happens.
“I hope to redeem myself and show my worth,” said Helenius about wanting to defeat Joshua and then avenge his loss to Wilder. “It’s going to be a really, really good fight. I’ve been training really hard. It’s going to be fireworks and glorious,” said Helenius.
