Helenius: ‘You Are Going to See the Best Version of Me Ever!’

While watching a recap of Finnish heavyweight boxer Robert Helenius’ career, including the knockout highlights, which of so many I have witnessed at the ringside in the past 13 years, gives me a chill.

The weather is less than plus 10 degrees Celsius in mid-October in Helsinki, and I’m typing this just after the sunset at a shore illuminated by the city lights under an ominous moon.

The sea is calm here but according to the forecast furious at Åland Islands where Helenius lives. The sea inspires me; just like him, as he told me once.

But Helenius is not at home. He has traveled across the Atlantic to New York, USA, and just recently finished his sparring sessions there with Vladyslav Sirenko, a man from Ukraine with hammers in place of his fists. “He’s got longer hands than I have,” Helenius said in an interview over the phone from New York with Finland Today.

“But he’s not Wilder.”

Deontay Wilder is a former WBC heavyweight champion who held the title for five years from 2015 to 2020; defended it 10 times. Successfully.

Early in the morning Finnish time, Helenius will face Wilder in a fight that could change both men’s careers, if more so for Helenius.

Helenius is hungry for the world champion title. He’s been hungry for years. Most recently he sent the previously unbeaten Adam Kownacki to the canvas in Barclays Center in Brooklyn at the very same arena Helenius is going to face his American counterpart from Alabama.

Obviously, Wilder is no joke. His highlight reels are filled with wild swinging punches sending adversaries to sleep. He is not to be underestimated, and Helenius’ camp knows this.

“Explosive. Very explosive. That’s how I would describe him,” said Markus Sundman, Helenius’ manager, to Finland Today. “But I think Robert is more advanced technically.”

Helenius said the preparations have gone well and he’s wary of Wilder’s ways. “Wilder’s right hand can be dangerous, I am going to stay alert,” he said.

This observation is not based on a mere hunch.

Helenius has sparred with Wilder several times while both warriors have been preparing for other fights, exchanging punch after punch.

“Whoever is going to beat me in sparring is going to receive a massage from me,” Wilder said in a recent sparring camp according to Helenius’ father and former trainer, Karl, who spoke in an interview with Finland Today. “Robert received the massage.”

While Karl is unable to attend the fight on the spot, he said that he’s been receiving updates of preparations for the fight from manager Sundman and his son’s trainer, Johan Lindström, and that he’s been watching the press conferences and weigh-ins on streaming services.

“If I had any butterflies before the fight, they are all gone now,” Karl said. “Robert appeared extremely calm, which relaxes me as well.”

In fact, at the press conferences, both fighters have maintained a calm demeanor. They appeared to have no qualms against each other, but at the same time, they have made sure that people know they want to win rather by a knockout than based on the judges’ scorecards. A draw would be unacceptable.

Many close to Helenius are expecting him to knock Wilder out.

But in what round? I asked manager Sundman.

“That I dare not say!” he exclaimed with a heartelt laugh.

The fight Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius is scheduled to begin around 07:00 Finnish time on Sunday morning, October 16, 2022.

The direct broadcast begins, for example, on Ruutu+ service as a pay-per-view event at 04:00 on Sunday morning.