Everything you need to know as two-time champion of the world Anthony Joshua gets a new late replacement in Robert Helenius, after his proposed rematch with Dillian Whyte this weekend was cancelled.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of a blockbuster night of boxing at London's O2 Arena...

Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Fight Preview
Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: All You Need To Know
Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Anthony Joshua Profile
Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Tale of the Tape
Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Undercard
 

Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Fight Preview

It’s not the fight that we imagined a week or so ago, but it's the fight we have been given - Anthony Joshua v the Nordic Nightmare, Robert Helenius.

For AJ, it's a night that he simply must not falter in as he eyes up a far more glamorous showdown with Deontay Wilder in the Middle East later this year.

Joshua was earmarked to tackle British-foe Dillian Whyte for a second time this weekend, but that postponement has paved the way for Helenius to step in as a late replacement, just seven days after making his own in-ring return.

The Scandinavian notched a third round stoppage victory over Mika Mielonen in Finland at the weekend, but will be expecting a far sterner test in London on Saturday night.
 

Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: All You Need To Know

What	Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius
Where	The O2, London
When	Saturday 12th August 2023
Odds	Anthony Joshua 1/16, Robert Helenius 9/1

When is Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius?

The two heavyweights will face each other on Saturday 12th August.
 

What time is Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius?

Due to the magnitude of this fight, with it being AJ's return, it will headline the card, so both fighters will be expected to make their way to the ring at around 22:30.
 

Where is Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius?

Both camps have agreed to fight at London's O2 Arena.
 

Can I watch Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius on TV?

The bout will be shown live on DAZN PPV, with Joshua signing a multi-year contract with the streaming provider in 2022.
 

Are there any belts on the line for Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius?

Neither Joshua nor Helenius currently hold any belts, with Joshua losing his world titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

The Brit then lost the rematch in Saudi Arabia in August 2022, but he did improve his world ranking by beating Jermaine Franklin last time out.

Helenius has never earned himself a crack at a word title, but he will propel himself right into the mix if he can produce a mammoth upset in the English capital.
 

What is Anthony Joshua's record?

Joshua's record is an impressive 25-3, having turned professional in 2013 against Emanuele Leo. 

Joshua won his first 20 fights by stoppage, stopping the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Carlis Takam, Dominic Breazeale and Eric Molina.

Joseph Parker was the first man to take Joshua the distance, but he still lost, and Joshua racked up 22 straight wins before he lost to Andy Ruiz in New York. 

The Watford man avenged that defeat immediately, but he has now lost three of his last fight bouts.

Joshua has only been stopped once, though, and at 33, he will feel he still has plenty left to give at the top of the heavyweight division.
 

What is Robert Helenius' record?

Helenius' record stands at 32-4 as he looks forward to his 37th professional bout.

The giant 39-year-old started his career back in 2008,  winning his first 22 contests, including one over Derek Chisora in 2011, before suffering the first setback at the hands of Johann Duhaupas five years later.

He has since stepped up in levels to tackle the likes of Whyte, Gerald Washington and Deontay Wilder, but proved no match for any of the three.

He was beaten in devastating fashion by Wilder earlier this year, being stopped in the first round, but he responded well by dismantling Mielonen in his native Finland at the weekend.
 

Who is the betting favourite for Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius?

Anthony Joshua is the pre-fight 1/16 favourite, which shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given his greater boxing pedigree.

Helenius - incredibly fighting at professional level for the second time in a week - can be backed at 9/1 to pull off a mammoth upset.  
 

Anthony Joshua Profile:

Anthony Joshua needs an impressive win not just for his career but for himself.

The one-time wrecking ball is a shadow of what he used to be and is attempting to capture past glories under Derrick James. 

Working in Dallas alongside Errol Spence Jr, Ryan Garcia, Jermell Charlo and Frank Martin could prove invaluable but in the end it all comes down to the big man.

Joshua’s performances since losing to Andy Ruiz for years have been a mixed bag. 

The disaster at Madison Square Garden was followed by redemption in Diriyah. Shades of the old AJ turned up against Kubrat Pulev before Oleksandr Usyk turned up to show the difference between good and great.

To his credit Joshua’s performance in their rematch was a massive improvement on the first showing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The post-fight speech in Jeddah made us want to look somewhere else.

Against Helenius, he is presented with an opportunity to show that his previous killer instinct still exists.

Recklessness isn’t the way forward but Joshua need to demonstrate there is a clear gulf in class between the two.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Good jab	Questionable chin
Powerful puncher	Lack of confidence
Good combinations	Lack of head movement
Hand-speed	Versatility

By Shaun Brown
 

Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Tale of the Tape

We take a look at all of the vital statistics of both fighters as they get set for their hotly-anticipated showdown at London's O2 Arena...

	Anthony Joshua	Robert Helenius
Odds:	1/16	9/1
Age:	33	39
Height:	6ft 6ins	6ft 6.5ins
Reach:	82ins	79ins
Weight:	Heavyweight	Heavyweight
Trainer:	Derrick James	Johan Lindstrom
Record:	25-3 (22 KOs)	32-4 (21 KOs)
Titles:	Former unified world champion	None
Last Fight:	W - (UD) v Jermaine Franklin (Apr 2023)	W - (TKO) v Mika Mielonen (Aug 2023)

Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius: Undercard

Anthony Joshua v Robert Helenius	Heavyweight bout
Filip Hrgovic v Demsey McKean	Heavyweight bout
Johnny Fisher v Harry Armstrong	Heavyweight bout
Derek Chisora v Gerald Washington	Heavyweight bout
Campbell Hatton v Tom Ansell	Super-lightweight bout

View odds for all of the above fights 

Odds displayed within this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.