Joshua to fight Helenius, who steps in after Whyte's positive drug test
A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.
The Anthony Joshua show goes on.
The former two-time unified heavyweight titleholder will fight late replacement Robert Helenius on Saturday (DAZN, 2 p.m. ET) at The O2 in London, Matchroom Boxing announced on Tuesday.
Helenius, who also fought last Saturday, has stepped in to replace Dillian Whyte, who was due to face British countryman Joshua in a rematch but was dumped from the fight this past Saturday after it was announced that he had tested positive for at least one banned substance in a random screening conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Although the substance or substances Whyte tested positive for was not revealed, a source with knowledge of the results told Fight Freaks Unite that Whyte failed multiple recent tests. This is the third fight around which Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs), 35, has failed a drug test.
With Helenius replacing Whyte, the card, which scheduled as a DAZN PPV event in the United Kingdom and Ireland but part of a regular subscription around the rest of the world, will now also be part of a regular DAZN package in the U.K. and Ireland.
“This wasn’t in the script,” Joshua said. “I respect Helenius and may I say I respect any male or female who steps into the ring. I am laser focused on the win. I can make steps forward to bigger and better things but the road map has a check point, Saturday night. May the best man win.”
Upgrade to a paid subscription for full access to all posts and comments
Joshua shook off back-to-back losses in world title fights against Oleksandr Usyk by outpointing Jermaine Franklin on April 1 in Joshua’s first fight under the tutelage of trainer Derrick James.
Joshua wanted to remain active and continue to mesh with James, which is why he elected to fight on Saturday, even though he is far down the road to a deal for a mega money fight against former WBC titlist Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in December or January.
Helenius (32-4, 21 KOs), 39, of Finland, rejuvenated his career with back-to-back upset knockout wins over Adam Kownacki in 2020 and 2021. But one year after the second Kownacki knockout, Helenius returned in October and got obliterated in the first round by Wilder.
Helenius has fought once since, scoring a third-round knockout of Mike Mielonen in Finland last Saturday. Helenius came out of the fight with no injuries after the easy win and when Whyte was booted from the fight with Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs), 33, he accepted the short-notice bout.
“I am excited about fighting Anthony Joshua,” Helenius said. “I am a true Viking that is willing to face any challenge at a moment’s notice. This is not an opportunity I was going to let slip away. I plan to make the most of it.”
Changing the event from a U.K. pay-per-view to a regular DAZN fight was not easy as the finances for the event — and the pay scale for Joshua — has to be reworked. But they were able to get it done after a busy few days.
“To get the news on Saturday (about Whyte’s failed test) was really disappointing, not only for us but for Anthony Joshua and for the fans,” Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said. “But we got to work and we have done what we’re good at, and we have managed to keep the show on. AJ has been unbelievable throughout this whole process. He is someone who is ready to fight, having trained for 12 weeks in Dallas with Derrick James.
“He has always been a great pro but this just shows me again the hunger he has for the sport. He wants to go out there this Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at The O2 and perform. There were a lot of options. But we had to make sure it was the right fight for the right deal. I think Robert Helenius is a good fight. Yes, he lost to Deontay Wilder but that was by a shot that would have probably knocked out a horse. But he came to fight. He can really punch, he’s 6-foot-8 and he won at the weekend. Ultimately, there is criticism in whatever you do, but I actually think this is a tricky and dangerous fight.”
There was conversation that one of the heavyweights on the undercard might be moved into the main event but the decision was made to keep those fights intact and sign Helenius.
In the 12-round co-feature, Filip Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs), 31, of Croatia, who is the IBF mandatory challenger and next in line to fight the winner of the Aug. 26 fight between three-belt titleholder Usyk and WBA “regular” titlist Daniel Dubois, will risk that position against Demsey McKean (22-0, 14 KOs), 32, an Australian southpaw based in England.
Also, British fan favorite Derek Chisora (33-12, 23 KOs), 39, who is coming off a one-sided 10th-round knockout to lineal/WBC champion Tyson Fury in December, will face former title challenger Gerald Washington (20-5-1, 13 KOs), 41, of Vallejo, California, in a 10-rounder.
A note to subscribers
I sincerely appreciate your readership. If you’re reading, it means you love boxing just like I do. If you’ve been reading you also know the quality and quantity of what I produce. It’s one-stop shopping. Read the newsletters and there is no need to search multiple websites or click a multitude of links to get the latest news, opinion and detailed fight schedule. Everything you need is in one spot and delivered directly to your inbox (or via phone alert if you download for free the superb Substack app). You don’t have to hunt for the news; it comes to you.
I believe that is worth something, so while I will continue providing stories, notes and the schedule for free, I encourage you to upgrade to a paid subscription for the most content. A paid subscription is your way of keeping this reader-supported newsletter going and supporting independent journalism. I am beholden to no network, promoter, manager, sanctioning body or fighter. If you have read my work at all during the past 23 years I’ve covered professional boxing you know that I keep it real and that will not change.
To upgrade your subscription please go here:
Thank you so much for your support of Fight Freaks Unite!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danrafael1/
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanRafael1
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanRafaelBoxing
Chisora vs Washington on the undercard? Eugh. Two guys who probably shouldn’t be out there anymore.
Just got the ding! Yeah, I think that’s the logical choice right?