Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Predictions from pros and pundits for heavyweight fight

1 year ago 16

Anthony Joshua speaks to Robert Helenius astatine their weigh-in

Venue: O2 Arena, London Date: Saturday, 12 August
Coverage: Radio commentary connected BBC Radio 5 Live from 22:00 BST; unrecorded substance sum connected the BBC Sport website & app.

Anthony Joshua aims to enactment a hard week down him with a large show against Robert Helenius connected Saturday astatine London's O2 Arena.

Joshua, 33, was owed to combat Dillian Whyte successful a long-awaited rematch, but was forced to cancel the combat erstwhile it emerged his aged rival had failed a voluntary cause test 7 days earlier the bout.

Finland's Helenius has stepped successful at little than a week's notice and is aiming to go the 2nd monolithic underdog to bushed Joshua aft replacing different combatant precocious on.

Andy Ruiz knocked Joshua retired successful 2019, the past clip Joshua was forced to draught successful an alternate hostile successful spot of a combatant who tested affirmative for a banned substance.

Helenius, 39, is entering the last stages of a vocation that has featured 4 losses and 32 wins. Can helium propulsion disconnected the upset? Or tin Joshua rediscover his knockout signifier with his archetypal stoppage triumph since 2020?

The combat volition beryllium broadcast connected BBC Radio 5 Live from 22:00 BST, portion the BBC Sport website volition person a unrecorded substance commentary leafage from 21:00 BST, featuring each the build-up and undercard action.

Here are predictions signifier immoderate large names successful the satellite of boxing.

Former lightweight satellite champion Anthony Crolla: "Massively frustrated it's not AJ-Whyte connected Saturday night. It's hard to instrumentality immoderate positives from it different than astatine slightest the amusement is inactive going on. Fair play to Helenius taking it connected a week's notice. I deliberation AJ establishes the jab and lands a large wrong inside 3 rounds."

Heavyweight Frazer Clarke: "The precocious replacement could origin an contented but Joshua is laser focused and acceptable to bash a occupation connected whoever is enactment successful beforehand of him. I foretell it to beryllium a spot cagey successful the opening circular possibly but I spot Joshua breaking him down successful a sixth to eighth circular stoppage. There volition beryllium a valiant effort from Helenius. He knows what an accidental this is and helium volition effort to marque it awkward successful the aboriginal going. I can't hold to beryllium determination successful idiosyncratic and witnesser thing devastating from Joshua."

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Former light-middleweight satellite champion Hannah Rankin: "I'm going with a stoppage for AJ successful the 2nd fractional of the fight. Helenius has an awkward benignant and dense hands but I deliberation AJ volition find a location for that close manus to get the knockout."

WBO cruiserweight satellite champion Chris Billam-Smith: "Helenius tin beryllium rather tricky and awkward astatine times. He boxed past play but has had precise small announcement for a large fight. It mightiness instrumentality a fewer rounds but I fancy Joshua to get escaped of him successful the mediate to precocious rounds. I can't spot Helenius causing AJ galore problems astatine all. Even astatine this signifier of Joshua's career, helium tin hopefully amusement improvements."

Former super-middleweight satellite champion George Groves: "I foretell an Anthony Joshua win. The champion script is helium blasts him distant successful a infinitesimal and a half. The 2nd astir perfect script is helium boxes well, makes nary mistake, punch cleanable and helium gets escaped of him successful 4 oregon 5 rounds.

"The worst lawsuit script is it goes past six rounds. That's not what we're present for. The amusement was saved to spot him blast him retired wrong 4 rounds. "

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn: "I deliberation AJ volition sound him retired wrong six rounds."

Heavyweight Derek Chisora: "Any combatant tin origin anybody problems. Everything is ever hard. AJ was prepared to combat Dillian and present his brain's changing. This is what satellite champions are made of. He has to adjust. First round, fig him out. Second round, fig him retired [some more] and successful the 3rd circular he's going to person to sound him out. I privation him to bash it that speedy - I request him to bash that it that quick."

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Boxing manager Shane McGuigan: "This is simply a showcase for Anthony Joshua - sound him out. Dillian Whyte had vulnerabilities. He's been implicit and knocked retired a fewer times and Helenius is the same."

Super-middleweight John Ryder: "AJ is going to conflict to find his scope aboriginal connected with Helenius being the taller, bigger man. But I deliberation by circular 8 AJ volition get clasp of him and the combat should beryllium over. I deliberation this is perchance a tougher combat than Whyte but I consciousness AJ volition grip it and determination connected to bigger and better."

British super-lightweight Adam Azim: "Anthony Joshua knocks him retired successful 4 rounds."

Former super-featherweight satellite champion Barry Jones: "There's ever a interest erstwhile you person a precocious replacement who is 6ft 7in and erstwhile was a contender. But Helenius isn't that anymore.

"If Joshua tin enactment affirmative nether the guidance of trainer Derrick James past I deliberation it volition beryllium a bully combat for Joshua and volition beryllium finished wrong 7 rounds."

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