The game of boxing has but once more been rocked by scandal, and that meant the eagerly-anticipated rematch between Anthony Joshua and Dilian Whyte needed to be cancelled at per week’s discover after Whyte returned an opposed discovering from his VADA check, and was subsequently pulled from the struggle. The present goes forward, and Robert Helenius steps in to tackle ‘AJ’ over twelve scheduled heavyweight rounds on the O2 Enviornment, London.
DAZN televise Joshua vs Helenius on their common subscription channel and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promote.
Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) is more likely to set his sights on a profitable showdown with Deontay Wilder within the new 12 months, however he should take care of the alternative problem in entrance of him first.
The 33-year-old misplaced his WBA ‘tremendous’, IBF, WBO and IBO belts for a second time in September 2021, dropping a call to Oleksandr Usyk, and though he improved barely within the rematch, the Ukrainian once more proved too cute and intelligent, this time taking a break up choice.
The Watford man returned in April, however appeared laboured at occasions in seeing off Jermaine Franklin on the playing cards underneath the steering of latest coach Derrick James.
Helenius (32-4, 21 KOs) has been knocked out in three of his 4 defeats, and the final one was a giant one, with Wilder starching him inside a spherical.
The 39-year-old returned to motion solely final weekend, stopping the beforehand unbeaten Mika Mielonen in his native Finland in three rounds.
Prediction: These pair are former sparring companions, however there might be no love misplaced right here, and I count on Joshua to take his frustrations out on Helenius, and rating a victory throughout the first three rounds.
Hrgovic meets McKean
The extra intriguing heavyweight battle comes on the undercard, the place Filip Hrgovic places his necessary place on the road towards unbeaten Aussie, Demsey McKean over twelve.
Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs), the primary contender to Oleksandr Usyk’s IBF title, survived an actual gut-check in his most up-to-date outing, the place he took a decent factors win towards Zhilei Zhang, having to come back off the canvas and overcome a number of rocky moments.
McKean (22-0, 14 KOs) has operated at a a lot decrease stage than his opponent, however Matchroom have invested in him, and he appeared on a giant invoice on the O2 final February.
The 32-year-old Australian was final seen in October 2022, knocking out Patrick Korte in three rounds to take the vacant IBF Intercontinental belt.
Prediction: I believe Hrgovic might be too seasoned for McKean, and he can grind out a stoppage win after the midway mark.
Chisora faces Washington
It’s a stacked heavyweight card in London, and sadly, the cash banked by 39-year-old Derek Chisora (33-13, 23 KOs) in his trilogy defeat to Tyson Fury final 12 months hasn’t been sufficient to place him into retirement, and he can take a shootout knockout win in his scheduled ten rounder with fellow light drive, Gerald Washington (20-5-1, 13 KOs).
Fisher goes for first professional title
Johnny Fisher (9-0, 8 KOs) additionally sees motion, and ‘The Romford Bull’ can safe the Southern Space 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 financial institution one other win, early on in his scheduled tremendous light-weight eight rounder towards Tom Ansell (10-4, 2 KOs).
In six rounders, George Liddard (3-0, 3 KOs) can keep unbeaten with one other early win in his middleweight encounter towards Bas Oosterweghel (5-1, 3 KOs), and Maisey-Rose Courtney (3-0) can outscore Gemma Ruegg (7-7, 1 KO) at tremendous flyweight.
Featherweight prospect, Brandon Scott (5-0, 1 KO) ought to take a factors win towards Louis Norman (14-13-1, 2 KOs).