By Daniel Edu
Anthony Joshua, the British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer, has declared that he’s prepared for a formidable battle against Finnish heavyweight boxer Robert Helenius on August 12.
The fight against Helenius comes after Dillian Whyte was unable to participate due to a failed drug test and ongoing investigation, prompting Helenius to step in as his replacement. Despite this change, the match is set to take place as originally scheduled at London’s O2 Arena at 10 p.m. local time.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Joshua shared his perspective on the upcoming fight, emphasizing his determination to perform well against Helenius. He stated, “I disregard everyone’s expectations and opinions, focusing solely on my job. That’s all that matters. We’re going to war, we’re going to fight. This is just another stepping stone to greatness.”
Joshua highlighted his unwavering focus and commitment to his training and preparation. He mentioned, “I train hard, which means I can fight hard. There’s always something tempting us, but I believe young athletes should concentrate on the task at hand. I am intensely focused on securing a victory.”
During the pre-fight weigh-in, Joshua registered a weight of 250 pounds, the same as when he faced Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, while Helenius weighed in at 249.4 pounds.
Joshua’s career has seen triumphs against prominent opponents such as Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Andy Ruiz. However, he has faced challenges in his bouts against Oleksandr Usyk, losing to him twice in succession.
Helenius, with a record of 32 wins and 4 losses, won his most recent fight by a third-round knockout just a week prior to this upcoming bout.
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