Helenius: I Don't Know Why Kownacki Would Want Rematch After What I Did To Him

[Ruthless-RKO]

Robert Helenius isn’t contractually obliged to give Adam Kownacki a rematch.

Frankly, the veteran heavyweight doesn’t think Kownacki even really wants a second shot at him. Finland’s Helenius dropped the significantly favored Kownacki twice and stopped the popular Polish contender in the fourth round of a fight FOX televised March 7 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“I don’t know why he would want to fight me again after what I did to him,” Helenius told Boxing Scene. “He may say that he wants to fight me again, but deep inside, I don’t think so.”

The 36-year-old Helenius knows what Kownacki is feeling a month after suffering his first professional setback. Helenius has lost three times, including two knockout defeats to France’s Johann Duhaupas and American Gerald Washington, whom Kownacki knocked out in the second round two bouts before Helenius upset him.

“It’s a new experience for him,” Helenius said. “He had never lost. I’ve been there, on the losing side, as well. So, I know it’s a hard feeling to come out of and continue doing what you do.”

The 6-feet-6, 238-pound Helenius (30-3, 19 KOs) believes a rematch with Kownacki, immediate or otherwise, would produce a result similar to their first fight.

“He has a style that I’m very familiar with,” Helenius said. “I’ve been boxing guys like that my whole life. So, I felt at home. I like a fighter that pushes me.”

Helenius won the WBA’s gold championship by beating Brooklyn’s Kownacki (20-1, 15 KOs), which should guarantee him a shot at one of the WBA’s heavyweight titles.

England’s Anthony Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) is the WBA’s “super” heavyweight champion. Germany’s Manuel Charr (31-4, 17 KOs) is its world champion and American Trevor Bryan (20-0, 14 KOs) owns the WBA’s interim title, but Charr hasn’t fought since November 2017 and Bryan hasn’t boxed since August 2018.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed Helenius’ plans on hold. For now, the reinvigorated contender is enjoying the aftermath of his career-changing victory over Kownacki, whom Helenius sensed realized their fight would be different than Kowancki expected almost immediately.

“I think he felt it from round one, because I hit him really hard in the stomach,” Helenius said. “I could feel his ribs through the gloves, and I knew nobody could take that kind of punishment. And every time he was coming forward, I wasn’t in any distress. For me, I didn’t feel that he punched very hard. Like I was saying before the fight, I didn’t feel he has a really, really heavy punch. Of course, any heavyweight can knock anybody out. But he’s a volume puncher and he’s an aggressive guy who comes forward.”

[gilgamesh]

It's obvious why he'd want a rematch. It was a very winnable fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It's obvious why he'd want a rematch. It was a very winnable fight.

Yeh. Not like he was down on the cards.

[gilgamesh]

Yep. That being said, Helenius would be crazy to give him one. He better just coast on this win until he gets a mandatory title shot or whatever which I think this win earned him.

[snake33]

Helenius should rematch Washington.
I think that's a situation he could turn around
and a better bet than going straight for a title.

[gilgamesh]

Helenius should rematch Washington.
I think that's a situation he could turn around
and a better bet than going straight for a title.

How is it a better bet than going straight for a title? He'd make 10 times as much money to go straight for a title.

He's likely to lose to the next noteworthy opponent he faces. Might as well make as much money as he can while losing.

The time for "He'll be better prepared with a tuneup" or whatever is gone in his career. This is his last hurrah.

[oogiebe]

Helenius should rematch Washington.
I think that's a situation he could turn around
and a better bet than going straight for a title.

How is it a better bet than going straight for a title? He'd make 10 times as much money to go straight for a title.

He's likely to lose to the next noteworthy opponent he faces. Might as well make as much money as he can while losing.

The time for "He'll be better prepared with a tuneup" or whatever is gone in his career. This is his last hurrah.

Agreed. Helenius needs to strike while the iron is hot. He's a risk of losing every time he gets in the ring.

[snake33]

How is it a better bet than going straight for a title? He'd make 10 times as much money to go straight for a title.

He's likely to lose to the next noteworthy opponent he faces. Might as well make as much money as he can while losing.

The time for "He'll be better prepared with a tuneup" or whatever is gone in his career. This is his last hurrah.

Agreed. Helenius needs to strike while the iron is hot. He's a risk of losing every time he gets in the ring.

Maybe a title would be better but I think he can beat Washington in a rematch (won 2 out of the last 6 ?).
I don't think he can beat Joshua or Fury. But if he's just raking in a payday, you could be right. Trouble with
that is I think he's done if he gets Ko'd in a title shot and I don't think he's getting a shot any time soon. Ask
Whyte about that.

[DrDuke]

Kownacki gotta change something in his game, if he wants not to get KOed by Helenius again. But will he be effective then? Anyway, it's an unjustified risk for Helenius. He needs to go further, while he can. Martin fight is the best for him now.

[gilgamesh]

Agreed. Helenius needs to strike while the iron is hot. He's a risk of losing every time he gets in the ring.

Maybe a title would be better but I think he can beat Washington in a rematch (won 2 out of the last 6 ?).
I don't think he can beat Joshua or Fury. But if he's just raking in a payday, you could be right. Trouble with
that is I think he's done if he gets Ko'd in a title shot and I don't think he's getting a shot any time soon. Ask
Whyte about that.

Guys would probably be more eager to fight mandatory Helenius than they would mandatory Whyte.

For the Champs, Helenius is a gimme.

I don't know if he could beat Washington or not, and it's really not worth the risk of losing out on a much bigger money fight to try to avenge a loss.

I doubt he'd make 6 figures to fight Washington.

[gilgamesh]

Kownacki gotta change something in his game, if he wants not to get KOed by Helenius again. But will he be effective then? Anyway, it's an unjustified risk for Helenius. He needs to go further, while he can. Martin fight is the best for him now.

He could try getting in athletic shape for the first time in his life.

[KiwiRider]

I'd like to see Helenius face Miller, as his comeback opponent, then go on to Ruiz.
After that, a lucrative promotional contract with Fat Busters as their spokesperson.

[gilgamesh]

I'd like to see Helenius face Miller, as his comeback opponent, then go on to Ruiz.
After that, a lucrative promotional contract with Fat Busters as their spokesperson.

If he fights Miller he loses, and nobody gives a sh*t what he does next.

[KiwiRider]

I'd like to see Helenius face Miller, as his comeback opponent, then go on to Ruiz.
After that, a lucrative promotional contract with Fat Busters as their spokesperson.

If he fights Miller he loses, and nobody gives a sh*t what he does next.

How can you give any prediction on Miller? He was roided to the poop chute.
Who knows what sort of stamina, punch output, and resilience he has clean? Add to that, first fight after a long lay off. Add to that his, umm... diet.

[gilgamesh]

If he fights Miller he loses, and nobody gives a sh*t what he does next.

How can you give any prediction on Miller? He was roided to the poop chute.
Who knows what sort of stamina, punch output, and resilience he has clean? Add to that, first fight after a long lay off. Add to that his, umm... diet.

I will 100% guarantee you that if Jarrell Miller and Robert Helenius fight, Miller wins the fight by KO in one sided fashion.

[morm]

How can you give any prediction on Miller? He was roided to the poop chute.
Who knows what sort of stamina, punch output, and resilience he has clean? Add to that, first fight after a long lay off. Add to that his, umm... diet.

I will 100% guarantee you that if Jarrell Miller and Robert Helenius fight, Miller wins the fight by KO in one sided fashion.

Helenius is a good gatekeeper nothing more, and he is on the way down... Kownacki was the highlight for Helenius

[margaret thatcher]

If he fights Miller he loses, and nobody gives a sh*t what he does next.

How can you give any prediction on Miller? He was roided to the poop chute.
Who knows what sort of stamina, punch output, and resilience he has clean? Add to that, first fight after a long lay off. Add to that his, umm... diet.

Although he may not even be clean, we've seen it before guys getting popped and then using again, like Ortiz and Pov . Could just lead him to using smarter

[KiwiRider]

How can you give any prediction on Miller? He was roided to the poop chute.
Who knows what sort of stamina, punch output, and resilience he has clean? Add to that, first fight after a long lay off. Add to that his, umm... diet.

Although he may not even be clean, we've seen it before guys getting popped and then using again, like Ortiz and Pov . Could just lead him to using smarter

I can only suspect that he has been using prior to being caught.
The drugs found in him sort of answer the question ; How is this flabby bloke able to put out so many punches?
Sure, there are heavies who can do that, rare but true.
So, as you said- he can cycle better. He could also turn a new leaf, get a dietitian, work out harder, and come back as good as he was.
The break from the ring, the lapse in any money coming in could motivate him. Miller was on the cusp of a big payday.
I still have no idea what Miller brings, because the cloud of the drug failures hangs over at least the last 1/2 dozen of his fights.

[Heretic]

Like Helenius said himself Kownacki is the style of fight that he is very good at. Just go and rewatch Teper and Whyte fights.

I said it before the fight and I say it again. Helenius will KO Kownacki in a fight if it happens.

Kownacki would need to change hes style significantly if he wan'ts to beat Helenius and I don't think that he has the skills for that. Firefight is only thing he knows and Helenius will beat him in one.

The roided up version of Miller would have been too much for Helenius. That version was one of the best non champion HW boxers out there. It will be interesting to see on what kind of level he can get back to after the layoff. Him vs Helenius would have been great fight for as long as it would last

[lazboy]

I think Kownaki has a very good chance of avenging his defeat. Helenius doesn’t strike me as a winner, to be frank.

[oogiebe]

I think Kownaki has a very good chance of avenging his defeat. Helenius doesn’t strike me as a winner, to be frank.

100%. Could be that Kow's loss was the best thing to happen to him. He has a great engine. Maybe he goes back to the gym and gets some skills/defense.

[margaret thatcher]

How often do these face first brawlers actually do that though

[oogiebe]

How often do these face first brawlers actually do that though

Yeah...not too often. But he's young enough to make some changes.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Looks like they're gonna do this one back.