Robert Helenius has stepped up as a late replacement to fight Anthony Joshua this weekend, live on DAZN.
Helenius is perhaps best known for his fight with Deontay Wilder in 2022 when he suffered a swift knockout loss.
With 36 fights and 32 wins to his name, the 39-year-old Finnish fighter boasts plenty of experience, though Joshua remains the favourite to emerge with the victory.
A win for Helenius would be a huge upset this weekend at the O2, but he has collected a few belts along the way over his long career.
DAZN takes a look at the career of Helenius ahead of this career defining fight.
What is Robert Helenius' record?
Robert Helenius boasts a 32-4 professional record with 21 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Championships
Robert Helenius has not held any of the four major titles, but he has picked up several other championships over the course of the last two decades.
Way back in 2010, he won his 13th straight fight against Gregory Tony to pick up the vacant European Union heavyweight title, and later that year he knocked out Attila Levin to add the vacant WBO Inter-Continental strap to his resume. In April 2011, he defeated Samuel Peter to claim the vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title, and against Derkek Chisora in December 2011 he notched up the vacant European heavyweight ttitle.
In December 2015 he came up against Franz Rill in Helsinki to win the vacant IBF International and European heavyweight titles, and in April 2016 lost to Johann Duhaupas for the vcant WBC Silver heavyweight title. In June 2017, he won the WBC Silver International heavyweight belt against, Evgeny Orlov, and in October that year he suffered a defeat against Dillian Whyte for the vacant WBC SIlver heavyweight title.
He picked up the vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight belt against Erkan Teper in September 2018, winning by KO, and the last belt he won was the vacant WBA Gold heavyweight title against Adam Kownacki in New York in March 2020.
Biggest wins
Helenius becomes European champion by defeating Chisora; December 3, 2011
At the end of December 2011, Helenius came up against Britain's Derek Chisora in Helsinki, Finland, to contest the vacant European heavyweight belt.
Many observers thought that Chisora had the better of the fight, and afterwards, Helenius stated that he had suffered an injury to his right arm in the fight's first round, and had to alter his style - with examinations revealing a fracture in the aftermath.
The result, split-decision victory in the Finn's favour, caused controversy and put the pressure on Helenius to up his game up on his return to the ring.
Helenius becomes WBA Gold champion; March 7, 2020
With the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing, Helenius set up a fight against Adam Kownacki for a WBA heavyweight title eliminator.
The winner would in theory be in line for a clash with then-champion, Anthony Joshua, but it would be three more years before he was able to face off against the Briton.
Helenius defeated Kownacki with a fourth-round stoppage, and while Kownacki would exercise his rematch clause, he was defeated once more.
Joshua vs. Helenius fight date, start time
- Date: Saturday, August 12
- Time: 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 10 p.m. BST / 5 p.m. ET
The main card is set to get underway at 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10 p.m. BST / 5 p.m. ET. These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
Can I watch Joshua vs. Helenius on DAZN?
The card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe. You can sign up for a subscription here.
However if you are in Argentina, Chile and Colombia you must download the DAZN app from the Apple App Store or Android Google Play store and then sign up from there, rather than via web browser.
What devices are supported on DAZN?
DAZN is available on web browsers at DAZN.com (except Argentina, Chile and Colombia) and also has apps available for all of the following TV and streaming devices:
| Mobile Devices | TV & Streaming Devices | Game Consoles |
| iPhone, iPad | Amazon Fire TV Stick | PlayStation 4 |
| Android phones, tablets | Android TV | PlayStation 5 |
| Amazon Fire tablet | Apple TV | XBox One |
| Google Chromecast | XBox Series X | S | |
| Hisense | ||
| LG Smart TV, Smartcast | ||
| Panasonic, Samsung & Sony Smart TV | ||
| Philips, Roku | ||
| Vestel | ||
| Vizio |
How to watch if you’re a Virgin Media customer
Virgin Media customers in the UK can order Joshua vs. Helenius and watch the event directly on their Virgin set top box. Every PPV order includes one-month access to the DAZN app. More information on how to redeem the one-month DAZN access will be provided on-screen during the fight night broadcast.
How to order the Joshua vs. Helenius PPV on your Virgin box:
- Virgin customers with a TiVo and/ or V6 set-top-box
- Press Home or On Demand on your remote control and go to:
- On Demand > Live Events
- Then pressing the red button
Virgin customers with a Virgin TV 360 or Stream set-top-box
Press Home on your remote control and go to:
- ‘Pay Per View Live Events’ rail/section
- Then pressing OK
Where is the Joshua vs. Helenius fight?
The fight will take place at the O2 Arena in London.
Anthony Joshua record and bio
- Nationality: British
- Date of birth: October 15, 1989
- Height: 6' 6"
- Reach: 82"
- Total fights: 28
- Record: 25-3 (22 KOs)
Robert Helenius record and bio
- Nationality: Finish
- Date of birth: January 2, 1984
- Height: 6' 6.5"
- Reach: 79"
- Total fights: 36
- Record: 32-4 (21 KOs)
Joshua vs. Helenius fight card
- Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius; Heavyweight
- Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean; Heavyweight
- Johnny Fisher vs. Harry Armstrong; Heavyweight
- Derek Chisora vs. Gerald Washington; Heavyweight
- George Liddard vs. Bas Oosterweghel
- Campbell Hatton vs. Tom Ansell; Super-lightweight
- Brandon Scott vs. Louis Norman; Featherweight
- Maiseyrose Courtney vs. Gemma Ruegg; Super-flyweight