Joshua: It’ll be silly to underrate Helenius

By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 10, 2023

Anthony Joshua has acknowledged that he will need to be on his “A game” in order to see off the challenge of Robert Helenius.

The two-time heavyweight world champion had been scheduled to face Dillian Whyte in a rematch of their December 2015 fight before his opponent failed a drug test.

Matchroom Sport have moved quickly to find a replacement in Helenius, who was confirmed as the opponent on Tuesday after only making a return to the ring last weekend after a 10-month absence.

With Helenius having been knocked out in one round by Deontay Wilder in October and having previously lost a wide points decision to Whyte, Joshua is naturally regarded as the heavy favourite to prevail at the O2 Arena in London.

However, the Finn has 32 wins from 36 outings on his record, his most notable coming against Adam Kownacki on two occasions when the Polish fighter was being pushed towards world title contention by US promoters.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Joshua admitted that he cannot afford to overlook Helenius, particularly having experience of losing to late stand-in Andy Ruiz when he made his United States debut in June 2019.

Joshua told reporters: “Late replacements aren’t ideal, but this is the third time that it has happened.

“This is what happens, it is a long career that will bring up these type of obstacles and I have just got to get used to them. This is just another rock in my shoe on my way towards the top of the mountain.”

“The principles remain the same in that I have to worry about myself. Helenius and I shared the ring together many years ago, and sparring is sparring as well, but we shared the ring together many years ago, but I have sparred so many different styles, competed with so many styles, but the objective remains the same, which is victory by any means. There is no overtime in boxing, so I need to be on my ‘A’ game and inflict pain to get the victory.

“It would be silly to underestimate Helenius. It is silly to underestimate anyone. So I have to take him deadly serious. But credit to him as well.

“He is coming to roll the dice, he wants to win. With other heavyweights, finances have been an issue, risk versus reward, but in reality, that isn’t all that this is to him. He is here, he wants to win, so good luck to him.”

 

 

 

Source Punch Ng

Posted August 10, 2023


 

You may also like...
2022 CAF WCL: Bayelsa Queens To Know Group...

Dier Signs New Tottenham Deal

Davis Cup: Novak Djokovic And Serbia Lose To...

Osimhen edging closer to Arsenal move

Guardiola confident ahead Man City vs Liverpool cracker...

Guardiola: Liverpool attack almost unstoppable

 

Latest News Basketball: MFM, First Bank maintain league dominance Haye backs Itauma to beat Joshua, Fury NPFL woos NTA after N6bn StarTimes deal collapse Okonkwo’s WNBA hardship contract ends Lagos aims for dominance as youth games begins NSC confirms 6,382-man contingent for Youth Games Anambra First Lady Bids Farewell To Team Anambra, Charges Them To Surpass Records At 2025 NYG In Asaba Amaechi targets consistency at World Champs NPFL to probe more players over betting allegations Super Eagles’ Nwabali suffers injury ahead of World Cup qualifiers Over 6,300 athletes set for ninth national youth games in Delta Rasheedat Ajibade signs for Paris Saint-Germain until 2027

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (56,317 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (47,487 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (45,471 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (45,072 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (45,056 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (45,053 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,869 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (44,417 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (43,528 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (42,131 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (40,569 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,991 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media