Dereck Chisora (15-1, 9 KOs) continued his provocation of WBA / WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Robert Helenius (16-0, 11 KOs) today at the final press conference at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland. The two 27-year-old contenders will clash for the vacant European Heavyweight Title on Saturday.
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- Credit: Miika Forsstrom
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- Credit: Miika Forsstrom
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- Credit: Miika Forsstrom
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- Credit: Miika Forsstrom
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- Credit: Miika Forsstrom
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- Credit: Sampo Muranen
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- Credit: Sampo Muranen
“They say Helenius is a great hero in Finland but let me be honest they don’t have many heroes in Finland,” Chisora stated. “Where I come from we have Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Andy Murray, we have darts, we have snooker, where I come from everybody wants to be a hero. I am competing with many athletes and me taking your unbeaten record will be the best thing I have ever done for my career. I will knock you out.”
Chisora has promised a “hot evening” on Saturday night, predicting once again to “make love to him in the ring.” Helenius remained ice-cool. “That is disturbing, what is wrong with you? You talk too much. I don’t care what you say or plan to do. I will be the new European champion on Saturday night.” And his coach Ulli Wegner added: “Robert has fists of steel and Chisora will find out what that means on Saturday night. We have worked on Robert´s punching power and he has gotten even stronger.”
Meanwhile, Hall of Fame Promoter Wilfried Sauerland does not expect Chisora to be around for the post-fight press conference. “Chisora has a big mouth. Talk is cheap. I am not sure whether he will show up for the post-fight press conference. Robert has knocked out three former world champions and two of them were unable to face the press afterwards. We will find out about Chisora. I know for sure that Robert is going to win on Saturday night.”
In the co-featured main event, WBA Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetkin (22-0, 15 KOs) makes a first defense of his title against Cedric Boswell (35-1, 26 KOs). “I have known Cedric for a long time,” Povetkin said. “He is a strong fighter but he will not beat me. This will be the first of many successful title defenses.”
Boswell, 42, is convinced that Saturday will be his big day. “I have waited for this moment all my life,” he said. “I am more experienced and much better than Povetkin. I will bring back the title to America.”
Sauerland has called the Saturday’s card the “best heavyweight bill in a long time.” He said: “A World title and a European title fight in front of a sell-out crowd – it is going to be an exciting night. Povetkin and Helenius have a brilliant future ahead but they need to prove themselves in dangerous fights. It will be a great event.”
