After losing his scheduled opponent, Anthony Joshua has received a replacement fight for this Saturday night. He will take on Robert Helenius in the main event from London’s O2 Arena.
Anthony Joshua Now Fights Robert Helenius Saturday Night
The new main event for Saturday night’s DAZN boxing event is set, as Anthony Joshua collides with Robert Helenius.
Set from The O2 Arena in London, the card airs via DAZN‘s normal subscription service. Three other heavyweight bouts are also on deck, including Gerald Washington returning to action.
Joshua was originally scheduled to meet Dillian Whyte in a rematch of their 2015 bout won by Joshua when he scored a seventh round TKO. He picked up the British heavyweight title that night from The O2 to go along with his WBC International and Commonwealth titles.
Whyte was removed from the bout after a failed drug test was revealed.
Anthony Joshua Looking To Make It Two In A Row
Following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk for the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles, Joshua rebounded in April with a decision win vs. Jermaine Franklin.
Like this upcoming fight, that bout also took place in London from The O2 Arena. In his career, Joshua is 8-0 when boxing inside The O2, including a win back in 2013 in his professional debut.
He successfully defended his titles several times before Andy Ruiz Jr. stunned him in 2019 inside Madison Square Garden. Joshua, though, prevailed in the rematch later that year and defended his belts once more before falling to Usyk.
Both matches vs. the reigning heavyweight champion went the distance, including a split decision in the rematch from King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Robert Helenius Is A Former European Champion
Helenius is a notable name, as he is a former two-time European champion with a record of 32-4. Interestingly enough, he just fought a couple of days ago, finishing Mika Mielonen in Finland in the third round.
“The Nordic Nightmare” and Mielonen fought from a 15th century medieval castle. Helenius, 39 years old, lost to Deontay Wilder last October when he was stopped in the first round, snapping a three-fight win streak.
He also fell to Washington back in 2019 and was bested by Whyte for the vacant WBC silver heavyweight championship in 2017.
Of his 32 career wins, 21 have come by way of knockout, including two finishes of Adam Kownacki in 2020 and 2021.
Gerald Washington, Others Set For Action
The event from London will be dominated by the heavyweight division. In the co-main event, Filip Hrgovic takes on Demsey McKean, while Johnny Fisher battles Harry Armstrong.
Washington takes his talents across the pond to collide with Derek Chisora.
In super lightweight action, Campbell Hatton faces Tom Ansell, while middleweights George Liddard and Bas Oosterweghel are also on deck.
Brandon Scott and Louis Norman meet in a featherweight fight, while Maiseyrose Courtney and Gemma Ruegg open the event in the super flyweight division.
