Deontay Wilder, though sans any belts, once again proved why he is counted among the deadliest boxers in the world. He sent shock waves worldwide with the first-round demolition of Robert Helenius on October 15 last year. But probably in a twist of fate, while ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has yet to return to the ring, the Finn, who won a match back home three days ago, gets a chance to become an absolute ‘Nightmare’ for Anthony Joshua, besides grabbing the big payday.

Robert Helenius’ back-to-back cameos come at a price. Initially, the match was scheduled between Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua. However, the rematch between the two Englishmen met with cancellation because the former failed to clear the doping test. Proactive offers, such as the one from former foe Andy Ruiz Jr. for a trilogy match, were in the offing. But the ship finally came ashore to pick up the Stockholm-born Helenius.

Robert Helenius; the beginning of ‘The Nordic Nightmare’

Born on January 2, 1984, Robert Gabriel Helenius stands six feet and six and a half inches tall and has a reach of seventy-nine inches. The orthodox boxer took up the gloves at age five. A notable stint at the amateur level saw him grab the Super Heavyweight silver medal at the 2006 Plovdiv, Bulgaria-held European Championship. Two years later, he debuted professionally against Gene Pukall on May 17, 2008.

He was on a twelve-match winning streak and finally struck gold on August 21, 2010, in Erfurt, Germany. Helenieus became the European Union Heavyweight champion, defeating the Frenchman Gregory Tony. He added the WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight belt two months later to his collection. The following year, in April, he took home the WBA Inter-Continental belt besides retaining the WBO version.

In December 2011, in addition to retaining the Inter-Continental titles, Robert Helenius claimed the vacant European Heavyweight title, defeating Derek Chisora in a controversial split decision. He fought two matches during the next two years and went inactive for the next two. Returning in March 2015, he won the vacant IBF International and European Heavyweight belts.

First loss to O2 Arena

His first attempt to become the WBC Silver Heavyweight Champion in April 2016 ended in his first professional loss. But he caught hold of the title in June 2017, only to lose it by October 28 to the man he will replace on Saturday night, Dillian Whyte. Helenius became the IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title holder in 2018. A year later, on July 13, he suffered his third career loss to the American Gerald Washington. In 2020, he won the vacant WBA Gold Heavyweight title.

Two years later, Deontay Wilder handed the fourth defeat to ‘The Nordic Nightmare.’ On Saturday, August 12, he comes off a technical win over fellow Finn Mika Mielonen. As of 2023, Rober Helenius’s record is thirty-two wins and four losses, with a knockout-to-win rate of 58%. The thirty-nine-year-old’s net worth is reportedly in the neighborhood of $5 million. Against Anthony Joshua, he could receive a career-high purse of nearly $2 million.

Read More: Robert Helenius Hints at Retirement After First Round Knockout Loss Against Deontay Wilder: ‘I am Out’

Could the organizers have picked a much bigger name as Dillian Whyte’s replacement against Joshua? Please share your thoughts and views with us in the comments.

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