The sport of boxing has yet again been rocked by scandal, and that meant the eagerly-anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and Dilian Whyte had to be cancelled at a week’s notice after Whyte returned an adverse finding from his VADA test, and was subsequently pulled from the fight. The show goes ahead, and Robert Helenius steps in to take on ‘AJ’ over twelve scheduled heavyweight rounds at the O2 Arena, London.
DAZN televise Joshua vs Helenius on their regular subscription channel and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promote.
Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) is likely to set his sights on a lucrative showdown with Deontay Wilder in the new year, but he must deal with the replacement challenge in front of him first.
The 33-year-old lost his WBA ‘super’, IBF, WBO and IBO belts for a second time in September 2021, dropping a decision to Oleksandr Usyk, and although he improved slightly in the rematch, the Ukrainian again proved too cute and clever, this time taking a split decision.
The Watford man returned in April, but looked laboured at times in seeing off Jermaine Franklin on the cards under the guidance of new trainer Derrick James.
Helenius (32-4, 21 KOs) has been knocked out in three of his four defeats, and the last one was a big one, with Wilder starching him inside a round.
The 39-year-old returned to action only last weekend, stopping the previously unbeaten Mika Mielonen in his native Finland in three rounds.
Prediction: These pair are former sparring partners, but there will be no love lost here, and I expect Joshua to take his frustrations out on Helenius, and score a victory within the first three rounds.
Hrgovic meets McKean
The more intriguing heavyweight battle comes on the undercard, where Filip Hrgovic puts his mandatory position on the line against unbeaten Aussie, Demsey McKean over twelve.
Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs), the number one contender to Oleksandr Usyk’s IBF title, survived a real gut-check in his most recent outing, where he took a tight points win against Zhilei Zhang, having to come off the canvas and overcome several rocky moments.
McKean (22-0, 14 KOs) has operated at a much lower level than his opponent, but Matchroom have invested in him, and he appeared on a big bill at the O2 last February.
The 32-year-old Australian was last seen in October 2022, knocking out Patrick Korte in three rounds to take the vacant IBF Intercontinental belt.
Prediction: I think Hrgovic will be too seasoned for McKean, and he can grind out a stoppage win after the halfway mark.
Chisora faces Washington
It’s a stacked heavyweight card in London, and sadly, the money banked by 39-year-old Derek Chisora (33-13, 23 KOs) in his trilogy defeat to Tyson Fury last year hasn’t been enough to put him into retirement, and he can take a shootout knockout win in his scheduled ten rounder with fellow faded force, Gerald Washington (20-5-1, 13 KOs).
Fisher goes for first pro title
Johnny Fisher (9-0, 8 KOs) also sees action, and ‘The Romford Bull’ can secure the Southern Area heavyweight title, with a stoppage of Harry Armstrong (5-1-1).
Remaining Undercard
Campbell Hatton (12-0, 5 KOs) is steadily impressing, and he can bank another win, early on in his scheduled super lightweight eight rounder against Tom Ansell (10-4, 2 KOs).
In six rounders, George Liddard (3-0, 3 KOs) can stay unbeaten with another early win in his middleweight encounter against Bas Oosterweghel (5-1, 3 KOs), and Maisey-Rose Courtney (3-0) can outscore Gemma Ruegg (7-7, 1 KO) at super flyweight.
Featherweight prospect, Brandon Scott (5-0, 1 KO) should take a points win against Louis Norman (14-13-1, 2 KOs).
