Robert Helenius will face superstar Anthony Joshua on Saturday in London. Helenius and manager Markus Sundman tell how the Finnish boxer ended up in the top fight on a fast schedule.
Jari Kärkkäinen,
Joska Saarinen
Heavyweight professional boxer Robert Helenius, 39, will get a great opportunity this weekend. Helenius gets into the match as a former world champion and Olympic champion Anthony Joshua33, against at London’s O2 arena on Saturday this week.
An opportunity opened up for Helenius with a quick warning when Joshua’s original opponent Dillian Whyte there are ambiguities in doping tests.
Helenius’ manager Markus Sundman confirms to Urheilu that the match against superstar Joshua will take place.
– This all started on Saturday morning when I received a call from Match Room Boxing in Savonlinna. I was told that Whyte was convicted of doping and Helenius was asked about this super match, Sundman reveals to Urheilu.
Sundman did not tell Helenius or his coach about this possibility during Savonlinna’s busy match night For Johan Lindström. First, Helenius had to get complete peace to focus on his return match against Mika Mielo. Helenius won the match with a technical knockout in the third round.
– Immediately after the match in Savonlinna, I told Robert and Johan. Robert immediately replied that he would go to the match without anything else, even though there is no preparation time at all.
Helenius, who had been thinking about the meaning of continuing his career, had started to think, while training for the return match, that maybe he could continue his career for a few more matches.
Of course, it was not in the plans to face an opponent of Joshua’s level on such a fast schedule.
– This is what I do for a living. Must be ready. Fortunately, we have trained well, Helenius tells Urheilu.
– Now there was such a chance that Joshua probably wants or thinks he will get an easy match, so I will come and surprise him.
As if by some miracle, Helenius got another chance for a top match, For Deontay Wilder despite the knockout loss he suffered. Helenius’ dream of getting into the heavyweight world championship match now gets at least one more chance.
Even though the road to the title match may take several matches, the opportunity motivates the Finn.
– The World Cup match has been on my mind for quite a long time, and I’m not quite ready to give it up yet, says Helenius.
Manager Sundman does not agree to reveal the prize money for the Joshua match, but says that the match fee negotiations were really tight.
– Neither side left the negotiation table completely satisfied, but there is definitely an opportunity for money to play a bigger role in this match. This is a great opportunity that we cannot pass up. We are again close to the top of the world.