'I need to take him out in round one' - Says Anthony Joshua before the Joshua vs Helenius Bout
Former heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua is gearing up for a Joshua vs Helenius this Saturday, where he'll face off against Robert Helenius at London's O2 Arena. Helenius steps into the ring after Dillian Whyte, the original contender, was disqualified from the bout due to testing positive for prohibited substances. Interestingly, just the previous week, Helenius notched a victory and even postponed a family trip to seize this sudden opportunity in London. A win for Joshua might pave the way for a high-profile bout with ex-WBC champion, Deontay Wilder. It's worth noting that Wilder defeated Helenius in a single round last October. People will inevitably draw parallels between Joshua's and Wilder's performances against Helenius. With determination, Joshua remarked that he can't afford to falter. The pressure is healthy. I need to give it my all and emerge victorious. While comparisons are inevitable, Joshua vs Helenius bout is unique. It's not about what Wilder did or what anyone else did. It's about Joshua and Helenius confrontation in the ring. Given the high stakes, Joshua is keenly aware of the challenge posed by Helenius. Underestimating Helenius would be a mistake. He's all in for this. With nothing to lose, he’s bound to give his best. While it promises to be an engaging match, my aim is to knock him out as early as possible. He should be more concerned about me, just as I remain focused on my strategy, shared Joshua.
“I can’t fail. That’s good pressure. Fight hard and win. There’re always going to be comparisons, but this is my fight with Helenius. Not Wilder’s fight, or anyone else’s fight. It’s just me and him. “It’s the wrong mindset with Helenius. He is going to roll the dice. What’s he got to lose? It’s going to be a good fight but I want to take him out in round one if I can. I need to take him out. Helenius has got to worry about me, and I’ve got to worry about myself.”In his subsequent partnership with coach Derrick James, Joshua is keen on putting up a stronger show than in his previous match. After two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the British luminary made a comeback last April, clinching a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Jermaine Franklin.
