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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Joshua vs Helenius: T-minus 23 hours
The first fight of the night will take place shortly after 5pm BST on Saturday, so we’re about 23 hours away from the start of the Joshua vs Helenius card.
The main card will then kick off at 7pm BST, with ring walks for the main event due at around 10pm BST.
Our live coverage of the entire event starts at 5pm BST, and we’ll have you covered all the way up to the final punch – and beyond!
Until then...
What time does Joshua vs Helenius start this weekend?
Here’s all you need to know as ‘AJ’ faces the Finn on short notice
Anthony Joshua interview: ‘Robotic? I became a champion being robotic'
Anthony Joshua was expecting to fight a familiar face this weekend, just not this one.
Until last Saturday, the former two-time world heavyweight champion was on course for a clash with Dillian Whyte, who outpointed Joshua when the Britons were amateurs, but who “AJ” knocked out brutally in a professional rematch in 2015. The trilogy bout was set for this Saturday, at London’s O2 Arena, which hosted the rivals’ last meeting. But then Whyte completed his own trilogy, returning an adverse drug-test finding for the third time in his career.
Whyte served a two-year ban from 2012 to 2014 in the first instance, before being exonerated during his 2019 episode, and now fans await the outcome of this latest saga. Stepping in for the 35-year-old, in any case, is Robert Helenius, who Joshua also knows well. The pair sparred in 2017, as Joshua prepared for his fight with Wladimir Klitschko, and Helenius recalled of AJ this week: “[He was a] hard hitter, good technicals, a little bit robotic. I felt pretty confident.”
Those comments were put to Joshua. “A bit robotic? Maybe,” he said. “But I became a champion being robotic. It’s true, right? It’s paid off.”
Full interview:
Anthony Joshua: ‘Robotic? I became a champion being robotic’
Interview: ‘AJ’ will box Helenius, one of his former sparring partners, on seven days’ notice after Dillian Whyte’s failed drug test
Campbell Hatton discusses Tom Ansell fight on eve of ‘toughest test’ yet
Another excerpt from our interview with Campbell Hatton today. Here he is discussing his fight with Tom Ansell tomorrow:
“I think it’s the perfect step-up really. I think I would be capable at even a level above [this], but we’ve seen how I’ve been performing – especially the last four or five fights where we’ve been getting them stoppages and winning quite comfortably.
“We want to get those rounds and experience under my belt before I fight for a title, and Ansell’s definitely gonna make me work for the win. I think it’s gonna bring the best out of me, when I get an opponent who’s gonna come to win.
“We’ve prepared for the toughest test of my career, but I think we’re gonna see the best version of Campbell Hatton.”
Read and watch the interview in full, here:
Campbell Hatton: ‘I used to have my nappy changed on the ring apron!’
Exclusive interview: As the son of British boxing icon Ricky Hatton, Campbell was immersed in the sport from day one
Glove row? Helenius reportedly unhappy ahead of Joshua fight
Hmm, hang on a moment...
Indy Sport contributor Declan Taylor has heard about a potential glove row...
Frank Warren: Anthony Joshua is ‘liable to lose to anybody at the moment'
Some harsh words about Anthony Joshua from Frank Warren, as you’d expect.
Tyson Fury’s promoter told William Hill today: “Joshua is liable to get beaten by anybody at the moment; if anybody hits him on the chin, he will go.
“When you watch him now, as he’s throwing a shot – and he’s a big puncher – he’s pulling back and away, because he wants to get out of range.
“He’s terrified of the counter.”
Joshua vs Helenius weigh-ins LIVE
Joshua vs Helenius weigh-ins LIVE
‘Have you got a problem?’ Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius share intense staredown
‘AJ’ will box Helenius on a week’s notice, after Dillian Whyte returned an adverse drug-test finding
Joshua vs Helenius weigh-ins LIVE
“Have you got a problem with me?” Joshua appears to ask Helenius. “No, seriously, is everything alright with you?”
Joshua seems a bit irked, but maybe he’s just trying to get inside his opponent’s head. He calls on the Finn to stay calm, which Helenius seems to be...
Helenius is then asked what was said in the staredown. “Nothing important,” he deadpans, speaking to Dazn.
Joshua: “I appreciate everyone coming out. This is my job, this is what I love doing.”
It’s packed in Westfield, Shepherd’s Bush.
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