For the third time in the boxing career of Anthony Joshua, he will face a late replacement in a heavyweight boxing match after Dillian Whyte was ruled out due to failed drug test.
Anthony Joshua has been paired to take on Finland’s Robert Helenius just days before the scheduled date for the cancelled Joshua vs Whyte bout on August 12.
As earlier planned, Joshua will fight on the said date and at the same venue, O2 Arena, but against a different opponent, Helenius.
Recall that Joshua has been in this situation before when he had to face a late replacement in Carlos Takam who stepped in for Kubrat Pulev, and Andy Ruiz who stepped in for Jarrell Miller after the American boxer failed a drug test.
Joshua beat Takam but was not lucky for the second time as he lost to Ruiz. However, the British-Nigerian boxer is expected to beat Helenius who was knocked out in the first round against Deontay Wilder in 2022.
Last Saturday, the Finnish heavyweight boxer returned to the ring for the first time in ten months to beat Mika Mielonen. A day after, he made himself available to face Anthony Joshua.
At Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference, Helenius said, “This fight offer came to me, five minutes after my fight. I was going on vacation with my family but not anymore. Luckily I had a good training camp so I feel ready.
“I’m ready to fight that’s why I’m here, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
While Anthony Joshua who seems unexcited to keep facing late replacements in his boxing career, noted that Helenius who has 32 wins from 36 bouts cannot be underrated as he wished the Finnish boxer luck.
“Late replacements aren’t ideal, but this is the third time that it has happened”, Anthony Joshua said.
“This is what happens, it is a long career that will bring up these types of obstacles and I have just got to get used to them. This is just another rock in my shoe on my way toward the top of the mountain.”
“The principles remain the same in that I have to worry about myself. Helenius and I shared the ring together many years ago, and sparring is sparring as well, but we shared the ring together many years ago, but I have sparred so many different styles and competed with so many styles, but the objective remains the same, which is victory by any means. There is no overtime in boxing, so I need to be on my ‘A’ game and inflict pain to get the victory.
“It would be silly to underestimate Helenius. It is silly to underestimate anyone. So I have to take him deadly seriously. But credit to him as well.
“He is coming to roll the dice, he wants to win. With other heavyweights, finances have been an issue, risk versus reward, but in reality, that isn’t all that this is to him. He is here, he wants to win, so good luck to him.”
Anthony Joshua Vs Helenius’s bout is a 12-round heavyweight clash which is expected to kick off at 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 12. However, other events proceeding to the main event are expected to start at 7 p.m.
