Boxing caused a collective groan this week when an elderly Finnish heavyweight who looks more like the Yeti than the Nordic Nightmare, as he calls himself, was named as the replacement opponent for Anthony Joshua this Saturday night.
Ticket holders for the 02 are still wrestling with whether to ask for a refund or show up in case a real fight breaks out.
Public opinion on this occasion does a little less than justice to Robert Helenius. It may not be the most demanding, but at least he’s a marginal improvement on the drug-tested Dillian Whyte. Nor does the perception of Helenius as a sheriff’s deputy do anything to deflect the heat from Joshua.
Every fight since AJ was knocked out by roly-poly Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr and then lost his world titles for a second time to Ukrainian war mascot Oleksandr Usyk has been a pivotal turning point.
Bluntly, he cannot afford another defeat. Certainly not if it were inflicted by a lightly regarded replacement.
Anthony Joshua takes on Finnish heavyweight Robert Helenius at the 02 Arena on Saturday night
The two-time world champion admits pressure is on after losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk
A defeat for Joshua would likely mean a New Year’s fight against Deontay Wilder is out of the question
“No, I can’t lose,” says Joshua. ‘Yes, I’m under pressure. Hopefully it’s a good push that keeps me focused on getting the job done as quickly as possible. I’m the one who has everything to lose.’
Not only lose the tens of millions of dollars being offered for a New Year’s fight against Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia, but how much is left of a career crowned with Olympic gold and two reigns as world heavyweight champion. “Robert,” as Joshua puts it, “has nothing to lose, everything to gain.”
Helenius explains exactly how much he could earn by giving up the hunting, shooting and fishing holiday in Lapland he promised his children after an easy knockout victory in a Finnish castle last Saturday night.
To begin with, he says, “This win will put me among the leading heavyweight contenders and the millions in purses that come with those big fights.”
Then he says: ‘I also know that if I beat Joshua, I will become the biggest star in Finnish sports history. Since the news broke on Monday that I am replacing Dillian in this fight, it has been all over television, radio and the front and back pages of newspapers in my country. I think they would make me president if I wanted to. For what, no thanks.
“But I do think that the public will see me as even bigger than Maati Nykanen (the best ski jumper of all time) and Paavo Nurmi (the legendary runner who won nine gold and three silver medals in three Summer Olympics).”
It will not escape the attention of petrolheads that there is not even a mention of the three Finnish F1 world champions Mika Hakkinen, Keke Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen. Each country has its own sporting preferences.
Helenius hopes for a victory that would make him ‘the greatest star in Finland’s sporting history’
And for every idol, the fickleness of fame. Joshua is unaware that his fan base is weakening as he steps back from massive stadium title fights to arenas. There’s a wistfulness about him and humility, but no resentment, as he says, ‘I never believed the hype. Never thought “oh they love me.” You will suffer if you believe that. People don’t like you. They love the belts and whoever has them is the king. The belts are not mine now so I can understand there is a shift in my reality.
That’s why I’ve worked hard to develop my life outside the ring. In corporate life. About marketing my brand. Low times like this will eat you up if your only identity is that of a boxer. Even if you are champion. If you lose or retire, you lose that identity. I will define myself by what I do throughout my life.’
Still, he’s willing to work hard to reverse that gradual drift from worship: “It’s back to the 02 and touring the arenas. Maybe the next Manchester. It’s a rebuilding process and I really believe I can get back to stadiums by fighting the right people. You know who they are (think Wilder, Tyson Fury, and Usyk probably in that order.)
“Definitely, I can win one of the belts because they all become available pretty soon. Maybe not all. Maybe not become a unified champion again. Winning one belt is easier than battling champion after champion to collect belts. That is very, very difficult. And now I have to concentrate on the man in front of me on Saturday.’
Joshua’s support among boxing fans is starting to wane, but he is willing to work hard to recoup his titles
Joshua warms to that task when he is told that Helenius has described him as “a little robotic.” He says, “Looks like being a robot has paid off. Twice world champion.’
A little fear should come in handy as he has set his sights on matching Wilder’s instant knockout of Helenius in October. AJ says, “Comparing results doesn’t really work, but I also want him out in the first round.”
Even if it takes a bit longer, a showreel KO in the 02 would be a clarion call for the faithful and take him back to the big time. Expect a stop. Not least because Joshua knows he’d run out of steam with anything less.
Joshua v Helenius will be broadcasted for life this Saturday night on DAZN, via a regular subscription.
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