Robert Helenius will challenge heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua on Saturday in London. According to manager Markus Sundman, the match is everything in terms of the continuation of the Finnish career.
Ossi Saarinen,
Jari Kärkkäinen
Robert Helenius was mentally exhausted at the end of last year. Career progression was at stake For Deontay Wilder after suffering a loss.
Known as a knockout machine, Wilder hit Helenius on the canvas in the first round in New York. The year-long project ended in the blink of an eye and the dream of a World Cup title match seemed to be buried.
Now, however, Helenius is once again stepping into the brightest lights of the boxing world. He will fight a former world champion and Olympic champion in London on Saturday Anthony Joshua against.
Joshua was originally supposed to take Dillian Whyte against, but there were ambiguities in his doping tests.
Helenius admits that meeting Joshua feels like the last seam in some ways. That’s why he also grabbed it.
– I know that it takes a couple of years to get to the World Cup match. It can take a really long time. I don’t know if I have much longer left in my career. I’m almost 40 already, Helenius commented to Urheilu at Helsinki-Vantaa airport.
– This came at just the right time.
Heavyweight stars traditionally arrive at matches with plump arms and big supporters, as Wilder showed in New York.
Only his manager got on the plane to London with Helenius on Tuesday evening Markus Sundman.
The Åland duo will be joined by Helenius’ coach Johan Lindströmwho arrives at a fast pace to the match directly from Turkey.
After losing to Wilder, Helenius wanted to think about his future in peace. According to manager Sundman, his phone has picked up a lot even after the wild knockout loss.
– However, we decided not to discuss boxing for six months and this is what was done. Then came the opportunity of Savonlinna and the offers are still coming. Now we caught this.
Helenius’ return match is only a few days away. He got in the ring last Saturday and knocked out Mika Mielonen in the third period.
Helenius had to make a decision about the Joshua match very quickly. He heard about the possibility only after meeting Mielonen.
The experienced boxer hesitated at first, but after a minute’s deliberation, the decision was made. The mental side is fine again and he is ready to take on a big challenge.
– Otherwise, I wouldn’t go to England to try my luck. Yes, I’m going there to win. I can build up my psyche enough that there will be a good match, Helenius promised.
Joshua, like other heavyweight stars, are familiar friends to Helenius. He has measured the British star as a training opponent.
Helenius describes Joshua as a robotic boxer, but he has improved his movement recently.
– Carefully and then against hard straights, Helenius describes his own match tactics.
On Wednesday, Helenius and Joshua will step in front of the press for the first time in London. Before Friday’s weigh-in, there will also be a medical check-up, vigorous strength training and sensitization.
According to the duo from Åland, the stakes for Saturday night’s match are clear.
– When I win, I hope I get to the World Cup, Helenius said.
– After all, this is everything. A really big match. This is where the world championship dream will be born again, Sundman said.
Along with career advancement, Helenius’ motivator is undeniably money: Sundman did not reveal how big Helenius’ match fee is, but the boxing influencer Pekka Mäki estimates it to be in the range of 300,000 to 400,000 euros.