Anthony Joshua news LIVE: AJ and Robert Helenius weigh in ahead of heavyweight fight
Joshua will fight Helenius, who steps in on short notice, after Whyte’s ‘adverse finding’ in a drug test
Anthony Joshua will fight Robert Helenius on Saturday, after original opponent Dillian Whyte returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a drug test last week.
Joshua vs Whyte 2 would have been a rematch eight years in the making, with “AJ” having knocked out his fellow Briton in 2015 to avenge an amateur defeat by Whyte. However, Saturday’s rematch at the O2 Arena in London fell through when Whyte, 35, failed a doping test last week. Whyte has maintained his innocence, while it was initially unclear whether Joshua, 33, would still compete on Saturday. But his promoter Eddie Hearn then teased an announcement on Tuesday (8 August), with fans learning that Helenius will replace Whyte.
Helenius, 39, is a Finnish heavyweight who appeared to retire in October after being knocked out by Deontay Wilder in the first round. However, he returned just last weekend with a TKO win over Mika Mielonen. Meanwhile, Joshua – a former two-time world heavyweight champion – last boxed in April, beating Jermaine Franklin on points at the O2 to bounce back from two straight losses to Oleksandr Usyk. Follow live updates below.
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Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Here’s a look at the official poster for Joshua vs Helenius:
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Here’s more on Joshua’s text to Hearn upon finding out that Whyte was out of the fight:
“Great Morning. I can only imagine the time and effort you and your team have put into organising a fight night.
“Just to say, sorry about the news. Thank you for all you and Matchroom do for me, it’s appreciated and I never take it for granted.”
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
So, after this weekend, when are the next key fights in the heavyweight division?
Oleksandr Usyk defends the unified titles against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois in Poland on 26 August.
WBC champion Tyson Fury then boxes ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on 28 October (in a non-title fight).
Between those two bouts, there’s also a rematch between Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang in London on 23 September.
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
A column on this will come later today, but I’d say Joshua deserves immense credit for his handling of this situation.
There would have been no shame in not fighting this weekend, especially considering how he was burnt by taking a short-notice fight with Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.
Joshua had more time to prepare for that bout than this weekend’s – after Jarrell Miller’s failed drug test at the time – and it still didn’t go to plan for AJ, who lost via TKO.
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Joshua has not stopped working, it seems, in spite of the lack of clarity across the last few days.
He now has that clarity, however, in the form of a 12-round fight with Robert Helenius this weekend.
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Hearn says Joshua’s reaction to the news of Whyte’s drug test was, via text: “Just to say sorry about the news. Thank you for all that you and Matchroom do for me. I don’t take it for granted.”
Joshua also reportedly acknowledged the work that goes into Matchroom putting together a fight night.
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Hearn: “On Saturday, you are going to see one of the greatest heavyweights of our modern generation.”
Just to be clear, he is talking about Joshua!
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Frank Warren wants to get involved...
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Hearn and Simon Jordan are still going back and forth on Talksport.
Prior to Hearn arriving in the studio, Jordan made a significant announcement about his personal life:
Simon Jordan reveals cancer diagnosis live on radio
The ex-Crystal Palace chairman used his show on talkSPORT to discuss his prostate cancer diganosis and surgery
Anthony Joshua to fight Robert Helenius on short notice
Here’s a look back at Joshua’s last fight, as his first outing under his new coach Derrick James secured him a win but not in the most impressive fashion:
Anthony Joshua labours towards confusing future
Joshua bounced back from two straight losses to Oleksandr Usyk by outpointing Jermaine Franklin
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