The undefeated heavyweights, bright futures or inevitable declines?

fury43323By Scott Bells: It says a lot when promoters have to pad out fighters records to ensure they remain unbeaten simply due to the fact that the two who sit at the top of the tree (The Klitschkos) are so much better than the rest.

This is what, in my opinion, many promoters are doing as there is clearly a number of grades of fighters in the heavyweight division; some can make it to the top and others will not recover from the inevitable first career loss that most, if not all, will suffer to a Klitschko or a Haye type on the way through.
Let’s break them down…..

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Helenius says his hand hurt against Sprott

Michael Sprott, Robert Helenius(Photo Wende) By Allan Fox: Unbeaten heavyweight contender Robert Helenius (19-0 11 KO’s) put in his third consecutive lackluster performance in beating journeyman Michael Sprott (37-20, 17 KO’s) by a 10 round unanimous decision last Saturday night in Magdeburg, Germany. The judges gave Helenius a wide points victory by the scores of 98-93, 97-93 and 98-93.

Helenius had excuses for his less than impressive performance afterwards, saying “My shoulder is completely fine now. The problem was that my right hand started to hurt a little bit…I didn’t use my right hand that often.”

Helenius looked sloppy, weak, and not the fighter that he was previous to his controversial win over Dereck Chisora in 2011.

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Abraham-Stieglitz, Groves-Barakat, Helenius-Sprott tonight in Germany

Georges_Groves(Photo Wende) By Scott Gilfoid: WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (36-3, 28 KO’s) will be defending his title tonight against former WBO 168 lb. champion Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 28 KO’s) in a rematch at the GETEC Arena, in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany.

God, I hope this is the last time these guys fight because I want to see Abraham fight someone that actually has the chance to beat him, and Stieglitz proved clearly that he didn’t last year in August in losing by a 12 round unanimous decision.

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Helenius-Sprott on Saturday in Magdeburg, Germany

By Eric Thomas: 6’6 ½” heavyweight contender Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KO’s) will be trying to make a case for himself that he deserves to get a crack at IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko when Helenius faces journeyman Michael Sprott (37-19, 17 KO’s) this Saturday night at the GETEC Arena, in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany.

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Dereck Chisora to be offered Robert Helenius rematch

chisora22By Mark Havey: In 2011 Dereck Chisora faced off against Robert Helenius in a bid to win the European heavyweight title. Chisora managed to recover well after being rocked in the first round. Many felt Chisora proved himself, few doubted he won. Much to the dismay of Frank Warren, the judges handed the win to Helenius.

Promoter Kalle Sauerland told Sportinglife.com, “I think we will definitely get that fight down the line. The question is when? Robert has just had a year out. A lot of people said he was build up to be big and then after the fight they said he wasn’t all that. But I mustn’t forget he had Chisora, by Del Boy’s own admission, in the first round but he held onto him and got through that round.”

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Helenius vs. Chisora 2 possible in the near future, says promoter

helenius223By Scott Gilfoid: Kalle Sauerland, the promoter for unbeaten 6’6” heavyweight Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KO’s), is interested in matching Helenius back up with Dereck Chisora (15-4, 9 KO’s) at some point in the future, but just not yet.

Helenius beat Chisora by a 12 round split decision in December 2011 in a fight that many boxing fans felt that Chisora should have won. Helenius tore up his right shoulder in that fight in the 2nd round after badly hurting Chisora in the 1st round with a big right hand that had him holding on.

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Robert Helenius vs. Michael Sprott in March in Germany

helenius223By Scott Gilfoid: Former British heavyweight champion 37-year-old Michael Sprott (37-19, 17 KO’s) says he’ll be fighting Finland’s Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KO’s) in late March for the European heavyweight title in Germany.

Speaking with Sky Ringside, Sprott said “There talking about me fighting Robert Helenius in Germany in March for the European title, the end of March.”

Helenius, 28, was out of action for 11 months due to a shoulder injury he suffered in a close 12 round decision win over Derek Chisora in December 2011. The 6’6” Helenius had surgery on his right shoulder and it took a long time to heal.

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Helenius elevated to #1 WBO off of unimpressive win over Williams

Image: Helenius elevated to #1 WBO off of unimpressive win over WilliamsBy Dan Ambrose: The WBO has shockingly elevated unbeaten Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KO’s) to #1 in their rankings off of his drab 10 round unanimous decision earlier this month over 40-year-old Sherman “Tank” Williams in Helsinki, Finland.

This means that the 28-year-old Helenius will soon be facing World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in what would be one of the sickest mismatches that you’ll ever see.

Helenius has fought only once in the past year after winning a very controversial 12 round split decision over Dereck Chisora last year in Finland.

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Helenius has a lot of improvement to make after poor performance against Williams

Image: Helenius has a lot of improvement to make after poor performance against Williams(Picture credit: Seppo Sirkka, Eastpress.fi) By William Mackay: No one ever said it was going to be easy for the 28-year-old heavyweight Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KO’s) to come back from a 11 month layoff to try and pick his once promising career back up and try to resume the same forward progress that Helenius once had going for him. He fought last Saturday night against 40-year-old Sherman Williams (35-12-2, 19 KO’s) and didn’t impress many boxing fans with his lack of power and defense.

Helenius never did have much in the way of hand speed, so that area remained as it was. But the the diminishing power was a disappointment, and of rouse so was his poor defense. The 5’11” Williams was able to stagger Helenius at one point in the fight after hitting him hard in the 6th round with a looping right hand that caused Helenius stagger backwards several feet and almost fall.

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Helenius defeats Williams, fails to impress

Image: Helenius defeats Williams, fails to impressBy Dan Ambrose: Making his first appearance in 11 months unbeaten heavyweight Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KOs) pounded out a dull 10 round unanimous decision on Saturday night over 40-year-old journeyman Sherman “Tank” Williams *35-12-2, 19 KO’s) at the Ice Hall, in Helsinki, Finland. The final judges’ scores were 99-91, 99-93 and 98-93, all for 28-year-old Helenius.

However, it was far from an impressive performance from Helenius, as he lacked his old right hand power and he was staggered in the 6th round by a big right hand from Williams. Helenius took a lot of hard head shots after getting hurt in the 6th, and if were facing younger, bigger fighter than the 5’11” Williams, I have little doubt that Helenius would have been knocked out in that round.

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