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Joshua vs Helenius betting tips:
- Joshua to win in rounds 1-6 – 19/20 with Betway
- Helenius to be knocked down in first three rounds – 2/1 with William Hill
- Joshua to win by KO – 15/4 with Bet365
Anthony Joshua is the overwhelming favourite to beat Robert Helenius when the heavyweights clash in London this weekend.
UK betting sites are offering just 1/16 on the Watford-born fighter, who is seeking to rebuild his career after losing his belts to Oleksandr Usyk.
AJ beat American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin via a unanimous decision at the O2 Arena in April, which improved his professional record to 25-3.
He was scheduled to take on Dillian Whyte in an eagerly anticipated rematch on Saturday, but Whyte failed a random doping test last week.
Promoter Eddie Hearn scrambled to find a last-minute replacement and Helenius has stepped up to the plate.
He has obviously not had long to prepare for this fight, which puts him at a significant disadvantage. However, Helenius is still a credible opponent with a 32-4 professional record, so Joshua cannot afford to take him lightly on Saturday.
With all that in mind, we have broken down the fight and explained the reasoning behind our best Joshua vs Helenius tips below.
Back Joshua to win inside six rounds
Helenius fought unheralded compatriot Mika Mielonen in front of just 1,500 spectators at a medieval castle in Finland last weekend.
He managed to stop his opponent in the third round and his team then presented him with a shock proposal in the changing room after the fight.
News had arrived that Joshua was seeking a replacement after Whyte dropped out and Helenius had been chosen as the preferred candidate.
The Nordic Nightmare was planning a family holiday with his children this week, but he cancelled it in order to face AJ in London.
As such, his preparations for this fight have been dismal, whereas Joshua has spent 12 weeks gearing up to take on a tough opponent in Whyte.
Helenius was chosen as he has a similar approach and skill set to Whyte, so AJ should be well-prepared for the threat he poses.
It would, therefore, be a major shock if Joshua failed to win this one in anything other than convincing fashion at the O2 Arena this weekend.
However, we have been here before. Joshua was scheduled to fight Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden in 2019, but the American fighter failed a drugs test.
His late replacement, Andy Ruiz Jr, was a major underdog, but he pulled off one of the greatest shocks of all time by knocking out Joshua.
AJ has arguably never been the same since that defeat. He beat Ruiz on points in the rematch and then stopped Kubrat Pulev, but he looked ponderous in back-to-back defeats against Usyk, and he did not exactly set the world alight when he faced Franklin in April.
Yet that experience should help Joshua guard against complacency on Saturday and he does appear to be a more mature – albeit more cautious fighter – nowadays.
He is angling for a blockbuster showdown with Deontay Wilder, who secured a first-round knockout win against Helenius in October last year.
Joshua will be keen to secure a similarly commanding victory on Saturday, and he could end this fight before the halfway mark if he unleashes his power on Helenius.
Both established and new betting sites go odds-on about this outcome, but you’ll find the best price on Betway.
Tip: Joshua to win in rounds 1-6 – 19/20 with Betway
Joshua should start on the front foot
Joshua faced criticism after delivering a sluggish performance during his narrow win against Franklin in April, so he will be keen to put on a show this weekend.
He will be keenly aware of the ease with which Wilder put Helenius to the sword and he will aim to display his credentials by securing a similar outcome.
As such, Joshua should come flying out of the blocks in this fight and the 2/1 odds on him securing a knockdown within the first three rounds look tempting.
Alternatively, you can play it more cautiously and grab 7/10 at William Hill on Helenius being knocked down in the first six rounds.
Tip: Helenius to be knocked down in first three rounds – 2/1 with William Hill
Can Joshua deliver a knockout blow?
Joshua has won 22 of his 28 fights by knockout and he should be able to do so again this weekend.
He is best priced at just 2/7 to win this fight by KO, TKO or disqualification, but you can unlock more betting value by breaking it down.
Bet365 will give you odds of 4/9 on a TKO, 15/4 on a straight knockout and 100/1 on a win via disqualification.
Seventeen of his 22 knockouts have come via TKO, so it is easy to see why the bookies feel that is the most likely outcome.
However, Helenius has never lost by TKO. He has only suffered four defeats in his career – a unanimous decision loss to Whyte and straight knockouts against Wilder, Gerald Washington and Johann Duhaupas.
Joshua delivered a knockout blow against Pulev in December 2020 and the 15/4 odds on him following suit against Helenius this weekend look appealing.
If you plan to follow any of our Joshua vs Helenius betting tips, check out what free bets are available to new customers before placing a wager.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
