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By Peter Akinbo
In a high-stakes showdown set to electrify the O2 Arena on Saturday night, British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua, is keen to get a win against Finland’s Robert Helenius.
The bout between Joshua and Helenius comes after a dramatic turn of events.
Joshua’s original opponent, Dillian Whyte, faced issues after failing a VADA test and couldn’t compete, forcing Matchroom Boxing CEO and promoter Eddie Hearn into a frantic search for a replacement, which turned out to be Helenius.
He stepped up when news about Whyte came out, and now he’s aiming to replicate what Andy Ruiz Jr. did back in 2019, when he surprised everyone by defeating Joshua on short notice.
The buildup to this epic clash has not been without its share of challenges for the two-time heavyweight champion.
When speaking to Sky Sports News, Joshua said he was eager to do his job, “I want to do a good job. I block out everyone’s expectations and opinions, just do my job. That’s all that matters.
“We’re going to war, we’re going to fight. This is just another stepping stone to greatness,” the 33-year-old said.
Joshua has been putting in intense training, but he openly admitted feeling worn out and bruised. Still, he’s determined to give it his all, saying, “I train hard, which means I can fight hard.
“There’s always something tempting us, but I think young athletes should focus on the task at hand. I am laser focused on the win,” he said.
With the fight just around the corner, both Joshua and Helenius are eager to step into the ring. They had a face-off on Friday, and tensions rose with Joshua even questioning Helenius, asking if there was an issue between them.
“Have you got a problem with me? Either we’re gonna fight now or we’re gonna fight tomorrow, either way we’re gonna fight,” Joshua said.
This did not seem to rattle the man from Finland, however, as afterwards Helenius had a simple message for fans, saying, “I’m here to upset.”
Joshua registered 250 pounds on the scales, the same as he weighed when he fought Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, while Helenius came in at 249.4 pounds.
Joshua has had a successful career, securing victories against notable opponents like Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Andy Ruiz. However, he’s faced challenges too, enduring back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk. He’s entering this match fresh off a unanimous decision win over Jermaine Franklin Jr. earlier this year.
On the other side, Robert Helenius holds a record of 32 wins and 4 losses. He recently secured a victory with a third-round knockout in his last fight.
For Helenius, this fight holds immense importance. Despite achieving regional titles, he’s been chasing a world championship for years, and it has remained just out of reach. Accepting this fight against Joshua on short notice is a calculated risk he’s willing to take.
“This fight means everything to me because I’ve been chasing a world championship for 15 years. I think this is my golden ticket,” he said.
Helenius’ last big fight was a first-round knockout defeat by Deontay Wilder in October.
Now he will be looking to avoid another knockout defeat in similar fashion against Joshua.
Meanwhile, Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott believes Joshua is on course for a January showdown with the American, another former heavyweight champion regardless of whether Joshua wins or loses to Helenius.
“I think they both should be in the ring with each other regardless,” Scott told Sky Sports News.
“Performance-wise, win or lose, to me Deontay Wilder and Joshua should be in a boxing ring together. It should happen. They both deserve to be in a ring with each other.”
