The new opponent for Anthony Joshua’s fight on Saturday has been announced.
This was revealed by Anthony Joshua promoter, Eddie Hearn on Tuesday Morning while speaking on talksports.
Joshua will now fight Robert Helenius with the Finnish fighter coming in as a replacement for original opponent Dillian Whyte.
Joshua was due to fight old rival Whyte at the O2 Arena this weekend, but the fight was cancelled after a random anti-doping test on Whyte returned “adverse analytical findings”.
Hearn said the fight would not take place on pay-per-view on streaming platform DAZN, with fans able to watch as regular subscribers.
‘We saw him(Hellenius) batter Adam Kownacki [in 2020 and 2021], he lost to Deontay Wilder, he got knocked out by a shot that would have knocked out a horse and he came to fight – that’s the reason he got knocked out in that fight. He can punch, he’s 6 ft 8. He won at the weekend, sent me a message from the changing room. I think it’s a tricky fight, it’s quite a dangerous fight.’
Helenius defeated Mika Mielonen by stoppage time last Saturday in a fight and
will step in at short notice to face Joshua.
“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.”
In his own remarks, 39-years-old Hellenius 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.’