Notebook: Joshua discusses decision to accept new foe Helenius
Canelo-Charlo hype begins, ticket info; Shields' new deal; Plant on Jermall Charlo altercation; details on Garcia-Roach delay; date, site for Rodriguez-Edwards unification; Quick hits; Show and tell
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The fight week news conference for former two-time unified heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua went on as scheduled on Wednesday in London, but there was a different opponent staring into his eyes during the face off than he had expected.
Instead of original opponent Dillian Whyte for a rematch on Saturday (DAZN, 2 p.m. ET) at The O2, Joshua found himself facing off with short-notice replacement Robert Helenius, who took the fight on a few days’ notice and quickly got himself to England after finalizing a deal.
He was pressed into service in the wake of Whyte being dumped from the bout this past Saturday after failing a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association random drug test; a source with knowledge of the results told Fight Freaks Unite that Whyte returned multiple positive tests.
Helenius was as surprised as anyone to find himself getting ready to face Joshua after scoring a third-round knockout of Mike Mielonen at home in Finland last Saturday, hours after Whyte was booted from the fight.
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