Anthony Joshua explains why he accepted Robert Helenius fight after Dillian Whyte withdrawal
nthony Joshua has confirmed why he accepted a late opponent change for this weekend’s fight at the O2 Arena in London.
The former heavyweight champion was due to face Dillian Whyte as recently as last week, until the fellow British boxer saw a doping test by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) detect “adverse analytical findings”. Whyte has since claimed his innocence but the fight had to be cancelled.
On Tuesday, four days before the fight, six-foot-nine Robert Helenius was confirmed as Dillian Whyte’s replacement despite facing fought in Finland last weekend, and Joshua says a sense of responsibility was fuelled his desire to keep the fight alive.
“Yes so I also looked at the undercard as well and I know how much it means for them to compete,” the former two-time world heavyweight champion said. “I know how hard (Matchroom) guys work and not only (Eddie Hearn), all your backroom staff. I didn’t want to let anyone down, my coach, DAZN, so it is kind of like a responsibility.
“Late replacements are not ideal but it is the third time it has happened. We had it with Kubrat Pulev and (Carlos) Takam, Jarrell Miller and Andy Ruiz Jr so this is what happens. A long career will present these type of obstacles and I just have to get used to them. Yeah, this is another rock on my shoe towards the top of the mountain.
“Helenius fought on Saturday, he is doing the right thing. As a fighter, you have to stay busy, you have to stay active and keep expressing your skill because that is the only way to improve.
“Obviously I haven’t been fighting, I fought at the start of April (against Jermaine Franklin) but I spent a lot of time in the ring. In Dallas we do a lot of ring work and that’s the closest thing to a fight. It is not just hitting the bags, shadow boxing, we do a lot of combat training so I am physically ready.”
Meanwhile, Helenius (32-4, 21KOs) insists he is not merely in the UK for a pay-day despite being in action on Saturday, where he recorded a third-round win over Mika Mielonen in a Castle in Finland.
The veteran will step into the ring for the 37th time and after sharing the canvas with Deontay Wilder last October, where he suffered a vicious knock-out loss inside three minutes, he is excited to go toe-to-toe with old sparring partner Joshua (25-3, 22KOs).
Stockholm-born Helenius added: “I am ready to fight. That is why I am here. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.
“I respect him, he’s a good fighter. It is going to be glorious. It was big news in Finland and I can ensure you I will give everything.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
