The Finnish media’s reactions to the match between Robert Helenius and Anthony Joshua emerged at an international press conference.
Joel Sippola,
STT Sports
– A massively big opportunity.
Thus of Robert Helenius manager Markus Sundman summed up the match on Saturday at Wednesday’s press conference Anthony Joshua against.
Helenius thanked the promoter for the opportunity at the press conference Eddy Hearn.
– This opportunity came five minutes after the match. I was going on vacation with my family, but not anymore. Here we are.
Helenius emphasized that he is ready to win.
– I am ready to fight. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.
– I have been chasing the world championship for 15 years. When you get such a big opportunity, you can’t help but take advantage of it. I will give everything to win the match.
Hearn, the director of Matchroom Sport, inquired how the quick fight has been received in the Finnish boxer’s home country.
– This was big news in Finland, Helenius smiled.
– I can imagine, I can imagine, Hearn answered.
After this, Helenius stated at the press conference that he swore to everyone present that he would give his all on Saturday.
Helenius sparred Joshua in 2017 when he was preparing for the match Wladimir Klitschko against.
Joshua has great respect for Helenius.
– It is foolish to underestimate Helenius or anyone else. I take him seriously. He wants to win.
“Boxing has a problem”
Joshua also spoke about doping after the press conference. He believes that boxing has a doping problem.
Joshua was originally supposed to face off in a heavyweight bout Dillian Whytewho, however, had to withdraw due to the ambiguities found in the doping test.
– I don’t know how to figure this out or what the solution to this problem is. But it’s clear that boxing has a problem, Joshua told the BBC.
For Joshua, this is the second time he has had to change his opponent at the last minute due to a doping scandal. 2019 American Jarrell Miller changed to Andy Ruiz Juniorto whom Joshua first lost, but won a rematch later that year.
Whyte’s case has been preceded by other doping cases in boxing recently. Last October Conor Benn’s and by Chris Eubank Junior the match was canceled at the last minute because Benn had twice failed voluntary doping tests. Amir Khan was banned for two years after being caught doping Kell Brook in a test taken after the match in February 2022.
There is no global anti-doping regulation in professional boxing. Joshua is included in the scope of testing by Vada, a voluntary doping testing organization for martial arts.
– People wonder how long this has been going on. I wonder how long this has been going on. In a way, I’m not upset anymore, Joshua said.