After stepping in as a late replacement for Dillian Whyte, Robert Helenius faced Anthony Joshua in a match that ended in a dramatic knockout, News About Nigeria reports.
Despite his loss, Helenius believes that with more training time, the outcome could have been different.
In the fight against Joshua, Helenius lasted until the seventh round when a powerful right hand from Joshua left him unconscious on the canvas.
Helenius admitted, “That was a big bang. I don’t remember the impact, my fitness was running out at that point.” He expressed disappointment at not being able to win the match, and while he’s uncertain about his future in boxing, he remains reflective on the experience.
Helenius also noted that he believes the fight would have had a different result had he been given more preparation time.
Having taken the match on short notice, Helenius said, “I hit him well with left straights, and I noticed that he was a bit embarrassed by it. I hurt him many times and felt like I had the match in hand at one point.”
“I still feel that if I had been given 12 weeks for that match, the end result would not have been like that,” he added with assurance.
While this marks the second heavy knockout defeat for Helenius in two years, he’s not yet ready to make a final decision about retiring from the sport.
He mentioned, “Even though I lost today, this left me with a good feeling. I will not comment on whether the career will continue.”
For Anthony Joshua, his knockout victory over Helenius positions him for an anticipated showdown with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia early next year.
The fight will no doubt, draw significant attention from the boxing world, as many anticipate a high-stakes clash between the two formidable opponents.
