Heavyweight boxer Mika Mielonen faced the overwhelming Robert Helenius on Saturday with a newly broken tibia. However, he would not have missed the opportunity at any cost.
Boxer Mika Mielonen the principle is that you don’t refuse a challenge, no matter how big it is.
Loyal to his principles, Mielonen ended up in a situation at his home in Savonlinna on Saturday, where he was faced with a challenge of 200 centimeters and 113 kilograms to chew on.
Mielonen, 41, who only started fighting two years ago, was met by the former European heavyweight champion of Robert Helenius39. The match ended in the third round with a technical knockout of Helenius, but it did not dampen Mielonen’s mood.
– I am satisfied with my own performance, this experience was unforgettable. Of course you noticed the difference in level, but I bravely set out for the challenge. The most important thing is that you can look at yourself proudly in the mirror afterwards. I remember this at the end of my life, Mielonen tells Urheilu on the phone.
After the technical knock-out, Mielonen quickly looked quite energetic and said he was ready to continue.
– I looked at the situation afterwards on the tape and yes the judge made the right decision, there is no doubt about it. Robbe (Helenius) would have had a chance to continue the grind before the referee intervened.
Through the injury to the match
Before facing Helenius, Mielonen, who works in the security industry, had collected six knockout wins from six matches, but the opponents have not been anywhere near Helenius’ level.
In advance, Mielo was called brave, even insanely brave. Mielonen admitted that the probability of his winning would have been in the category of winning the lottery. But he did not experience the fear of hurting himself in front of a superior opponent.
– If you start thinking about it or fearing it, it makes no sense to continue. I have that risk for work all the time.
However, the most important match of his career threatened to go unfulfilled in the last moments. Mielonen broke his tibia while jogging in June and had to stop walking for several weeks. In the match, the entire right leg was strongly supported.
– The injury made it difficult to prepare and I had to adjust my training. I just experienced it as a slow motion and I’m glad I was able to fight through it. However, it did not affect the final result, Mielonen laughs.
Postponing or canceling the match would not have occurred to Mielonen’s head. This is how he also assured the coach who was struggling to organize the match Pekka Mäelle.
– Of course, if it had been smart, the match would have been worth canceling. However, I told Peka that I would fight in a wheelchair. I wouldn’t necessarily have gotten another chance to fight Helenius and I wouldn’t have missed this at any cost.
Lots of inquiries from abroad
Mielonen, who felt Helenius’s fists in his internal organs, analyzed that the Finnish roller is in good condition.
– This is a world-class athlete. I encourage him to squeeze everything out of himself and strive for the highest peak in the world, I said after the match that if he needs a footed punching bag for training, you can always call.
After the match, Helenius also titled Mielo the second toughest guy in Finland.
– I’ll settle for that title, Mielonen laughs.
Mielonen’s next match is at the beginning of November in Järvenpää. After Saturday, the phone has picked up and inquiries have come from all over Europe.
– Of course I expressed my willingness. However, let’s get the leg in shape first and then let’s try the wings, Mielonen’s line.
Mielosen now has seven fights under his belt as a professional, all of which have ended in a knockout by either boxer. Despite the loss, Mielonen shared on his Instagram that the knockout percentage is still one hundred.
– It will certainly be like this after the next match. Meikäläinen’s matches don’t end with points, one of them ends up with a knockout, Mielonen insists.