Via Robert Segal: Robert Helenius says he prefers to be the underdog against former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder during their match on October 15 on the FOX Sports pay-per-view at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) entered the match with a three-match win to bring Wilder into retirement should he win. Wilder has lost his last two fights by knockout to Tyson Fury, and he’s in a weak position.
Picking high-handed Helenius was a big risk for Wilder because he was up against someone more powerful than Fury, and had a blueprint for how to defeat him. All Helenius has to do is follow Fury’s blueprint, and he can take out Wilder on October 15.
We don’t know if Wilder’s punching ability is permanently impaired after two knockout losses to Fury. If so, Helenius could take advantage of that.
“It is difficult to say because we wear larger gloves and headgear. It’s very fast,” said Robert Helenius of the day virtual press conference when asked how is Deontay Wilder’s strength in their sessions compared to other boxers he has fought.
“Some people punch really hard with power and force, and I think he’s more of a fast power guy. The explosiveness, I think, is the best thing about him.
“I hope so,” Helenius said when asked if he thinks his experience will help him against Deontay. “I had 250 amateur matches. So I have a lot of experience behind me, but of course, everything I’ve done in my boxing career has led me here.
“I just have to show my best boxing in this fight, and it will be mine. I think I have a really good boxing eye, good reaction time, good reflexes and also a bit of a belligerent side.
“I prefer to be the weaker. It woke me up in a better way. I need to focus better and do better for myself. Of course. If I didn’t feel the pressure, it wouldn’t be a really important fight for me.
“My plan is not to get knocked down. That is a difficult question to answer. I don’t have a clue,” Helenius said when asked if he thought he could take a punch from Deontay and come back the way Tyson Fury did on four occasions,’ Helenius said.
