Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius Preview: Odds, Date, Who is AJ's Opponent & How To Watch

In the aftermath of an adverse finding from a voluntary doping sample taken from Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua's next opponent has been announced.

AJ will face "The Nordic Nightmare" Robert Helenius as a late replacement, who has never fought for a world title before.

Gather all of the information you need for this heavyweight matchup, from when and where it'll take place to how bookmakers have set the odds.

When is Joshua vs Helenius?

Joshua and his team have kept the date of Saturday 12th August 2023 for the heavyweight's next fight. Given Whyte's adverse finding was made public less than a week out from fight night, Eddie Hearn and the Matchroom staff have had a quick turnaround to secure another opponent.

The card gets underway at 7pm BST which is 2pm for those on the Eastern coast of United States and Canada.

Main event ringwalks are set for approximately 10pm BST/5pm EST, but these timings could change due to the length of the undercard matches.

Where is Joshua vs Helenius Taking Place?

The show goes on this weekend as London's O2 Arena stages the Joshua vs Helenius heavyweight contest. This fight could still serve as a warm up fight for Joshua's potential behemoth clash with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in December if that match is booked.

AJ fought at the 20,000 capacity venue for his last outing vs Jermaine Franklin in April, winning by unanimous decision.

Who is Robert Helenius?

Robert Helenius is a 39-year-old Finnish professional boxer, who has held multiple heavyweight championships at regional level, including the European title twice between 2011 and 2016.

Helenius, who goes by the alias "The Nordic Nightmare", has 36 senior bouts and 199 rounds under his belt as a professional. Notable opponents of his include Derek Chisora, Dillian Whyte and more recently, Deontay Wilder - beating the first, losing to the second by a unanimous decision and suffering a knockout to the latter.

Overall, he has won 32 of his 36 contests, earning 21 of these victories by KO, and falling to defeat via this method in 75% of his losses.

In terms of activity, the heavyweight was engaged in a comeback fight at a 15th-century medieval castle in his native Finland last Saturday, securing a third-round TKO over Mika Mielonen.

Where Can I Watch Joshua vs Helenius?

Joshua vs Helenius card will be available to stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries.

There is no pay-per-view model involved with this fight, meaning current or new DAZN subscribers can gain access to this fight for no extra cost.

A number of devices support the DAZN app or web browser, including Apple and Android mobile phones, tablets, TV and streaming devices, plus games consoles.

What Are the Joshua vs Helenius Odds?

Bookmakers believe Anthony Joshua will pass this test with flying colours, positioning him as the 1/16 favourite.

The 39-year-old Helenius is considered a massive underdog, stuck all the way out at 10/1 for those brave enough to back him to cause an enormous upset.

A draw would return punters their stake and winnings paid out at 25/1 currently.

A number of other markets, such as Round Betting, Method of Victory, and Will The Fight Go the Distance? are also available.

What Should I Bet On the Joshua vs Helenius Fight?

With AJ so short in the win market, punters are going to have to try and extract some value from elsewhere.

Helenius is a fighter at the end of his career and should allow Joshua to put on a good showing, ending things with a spectacular finish.

Bettors can get 11/10 on either the over/under mark of 5.5 rounds, of which we'd be siding with the latter.

He never got out of the first round against the heavy hitting Deontay Wilder, and while there remain question marks about AJ becoming gun shy, Helenius is a game fighter who will have no qualms about walking forward and trading with his adversary.

The 5/6 on offer with BetVictor for an Anthony Joshua victory between rounds 1-6 also looks a good bet, with 7/4 available if you're willing to exchange a couple of those extra rounds and back AJ to finish things between rounds 1-4.

Who Is Fighting On the Undercard?

There are eight bouts on the main card, including this reshuffled main event between Joshua and Helenius. Campbell Hatton, son of former multiple light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton, is the first significant name to look out for, taking on Tom Ansell in a super-lightweight contest.

Heavyweight Derek Chisora, who was defeated back in 2011 by Joshua's opponent here, is scheduled for a 10-round matchup with Gerald Washington - a fighter who was rumoured to be stepping in to replace Dillian Whyte in the card's main event.

Lastly, fellow heavyweight Filip Hrgovic sizes up against Demsey McKean in the last fight before Joshua takes to the ring. Hrgovic is of interest to fight fans following his war with Zhilei Zhang almost a year ago, of which he earned a unanimous decision win on the night.

What Have the Fighters Said?

Anthony Joshua, who hopes he can get his career back on track, had this to say: "This wasn't in the script," adding "I am laser focused on the win."

Robert Helenius, whose last big fight saw him knocked out in the first round against Deontay Wilder, said: "I am a true Viking that is willing to face any challenge at a moment's notice."

Of his opponent and the chance to make a huge statement, Helenius stated: "This is not an opportunity I was going to let slip away. I plan to make the most of it."