Anthony Joshua news LIVE: AJ and Robert Helenius weigh in ahead of heavyweight fight

With his win over Mika Mielonen last weekend, Helenius improved his professional record to 32-4 (21 KO wins, 3 KO losses).

His most notable opponents, alongside Deontay Wilder, have been Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora, with the former outpointing Helenius and the latter losing to the Finn via decision.

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Following the drastic change to Saturday’s main event, Matchroom is offering refunds to fans who do not wish to attend Joshua vs Helenius. Those who do wish to attend the event will see their original tickets honoured.

Eddie Hearn on why Joshua vs Whyte was pulled immediately, unlike when Conor Benn tested positive before his fight with Chris Eubank Jr in October (a bout that was eventually cancelled):

“The tests, the results, the substances were very different,” plus, “that was a co-promotion, this was purely Matchroom.”

Hearn adds that Eubank Jr was originally content to fight Benn in spite of the latter’s failed drug tests, while Joshua was not open to facing Whyte in this instance.

Wilder was in tears after knocking out Helenius in October.

“Yeah, it’s a great knockout, it’s devastating, making history and stuff like that, but how much is that man gonna suffer?” Wilder asked.

“He may be alright right now – a little bit – but what about the next day? What about two weeks from now? What about a month from now? Maybe years from now?”

Finland’s Helenius last fought in October, suffering a first-round knockout loss to Deontay Wilder.

Helenius, 39, appeared to retire after that fight, but he returned just last weekend with a TKO win over Mika Mielonen in Finland.

Anthony Joshua: “This wasn’t in the script. 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 checkpoint, Saturday night. May the best man win.”

Robert Helenius: “I am excited. 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!”

Official! Robert Helenius is replacing Dillian Whyte against Anthony Joshua this weekend!

Is it the right decision if Joshua does indeed fight this weekend?

He has his eyes on a seismic fight with Deontay Wilder, which is in the works for early next year in Saudi Arabia, and Joshua will want to have some ring time before then.

A rematch with Whyte would have been a good test for AJ, before a potential clash with Wilder, but it seems Joshua believes that any competition this weekend is better than none.

Perhaps there’s even time for another fight later this year, if Joshua wants it.

His last fight was fairly recent, admittedly, when he outpointed Jermaine Franklin in April, and it was the Briton’s first bout under coach Derrick James. So, for Joshua, any activity between now and a fight with Wilder is not only about keeping sharp – it’s also about working more with James.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is due to speak on Talksport at 11am today, with his company Matchroom having teased news around Saturday’s event. We’ll keep you covered with all the latest around Joshua’s expected new fightm and what Hearn has to say.

Whyte has vowed to prove his innocence after returning “adverse analytical findings” in the doping test that led to the cancellation of his bout against Joshua this week.

Whyte wrote on his social-media channels at the weekend: “I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by VADA of adverse findings relating to me.

“I only learned of it this morning and am still reacting to it. I have also just seen that the fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken.

“I can confirm without a shadow of doubt that I have not taken the reported substance, in this camp or at any point in my life. I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by media.”

Whyte served a two-year drugs ban from 2012 to 2014 and was cleared of a doping violation in 2019, after UK Anti-Doping concluded the levels in his sample were “very low” and he was ultimately not to blame.