Robert Helenius vs. Adam Kownacki II - October 9, 2021

[Lackeos]

Interesting. I'd rather just see them fight different opponents, though. Helenius vs Wallin and Kownacki vs Breazeale.

[gilgamesh]

Interesting. I'd rather just see them fight different opponents, though. Helenius vs Wallin and Kownacki vs Breazeale.

Wallin vs Breazeale is going down. I wouldn't mind the winners of these 2 respective bouts fighting each other. The losers too for that matter.

Though I figure Helenius is probably just about done with the sport altogether. He's getting up there in age, and has had a lot of injuries.

[gregregegg]

Interesting. I'd rather just see them fight different opponents, though. Helenius vs Wallin and Kownacki vs Breazeale.

100% agree with this. That would be 2 new fresh fights id like to see. Then winners can fight each other, and looser can fight each other.

[gilgamesh]

Interesting. I'd rather just see them fight different opponents, though. Helenius vs Wallin and Kownacki vs Breazeale.

100% agree with this. That would be 2 new fresh fights id like to see. Then winners can fight each other, and looser can fight each other.

Breazeale vs Wallin is a fresh fight as it is, and Helenius vs Kownacki was pretty damn fun. No reason to think the rematch won't be fun as well.

[oogiebe]

Interesting. I'd rather just see them fight different opponents, though. Helenius vs Wallin and Kownacki vs Breazeale.

100% agree with this. That would be 2 new fresh fights id like to see. Then winners can fight each other, and looser can fight each other.

Breazeale vs Wallin is a fresh fight as it is, and Helenius vs Kownacki was pretty damn fun. No reason to think the rematch won't be fun as well.

I agree. I have no issue with either fight.

[TempleSlave]

I can’t really imagine any different outcome than what it looked like the first time around. Kownacki is just too one-dimensional, plus blocks too many punches with his face, plus doesn’t really have big power. I really can’t see how he can surprise Helenius with anything.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Helenius was pretty tired first go around. If kownacki is a little less careless he might grind him out late

[joe strong]

I don't think Kownacki was in the best of shape for the first match. I don't think it will really matter in the rematch because Kownacki isn't going to change his style. Helenius is still a very powerful man & he can box. He is also a good counterpuncher so I would be surprised to see Kownacki change his tactics & avoid the big punch. Kownacki has the Arreola defence. Take 3 punches to land one. He doesn't hit hard enough to have success with that gameplan against a big puncher. I expect Helenius by mid round stoppage.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I don't think Kownacki was in the best of shape for the first match. I don't think it will really matter in the rematch because Kownacki isn't going to change his style. Helenius is still a very powerful man & he can box. He is also a good counterpuncher so I would be surprised to see Kownacki change his tactics & avoid the big punch. Kownacki has the Arreola defence. Take 3 punches to land one. He doesn't hit hard enough to have success with that gameplan against a big puncher. I expect Helenius by mid round stoppage.

When is he ever in good shape?

[joe strong]

I don't think Kownacki was in the best of shape for the first match. I don't think it will really matter in the rematch because Kownacki isn't going to change his style. Helenius is still a very powerful man & he can box. He is also a good counterpuncher so I would be surprised to see Kownacki change his tactics & avoid the big punch. Kownacki has the Arreola defence. Take 3 punches to land one. He doesn't hit hard enough to have success with that gameplan against a big puncher. I expect Helenius by mid round stoppage.

When is he ever in good shape?

He is always fat & I guess he has been around the same weight the last few years. I'm not sure why I thought he was in worse shape than usual?

[joe strong]

I just hope that no matter what happenes noone uses it to justify one of these guys being top 15 guys. because neither are very good.

They are both in the top 20-30 somewhere. No reason to believe either guy couldn't move into the top 15 with another decent win or 2. Helenius was already a top 15 guy ealier in his career until the Chisora fight. He blew his arm out & battled multiple injuries & a promotional battle that took away some of his peak years. He never recaptured that momentum he had prior to Chisora.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Robert Helenius vs Adam Kownacki rematch set for early 2021



Their first meeting produced one of the most surprising moments in a year full to the brim with ludicrous happenings. Kownacki (20-1, 15 KO), who’d comfortably overpowered a series of mid-tier heavyweights in Charles Martin, Gerald Washington, and Chris Arreola in previous efforts, entered the ring as a nearly 30-to-1 favorite. Helenius hadn’t beaten anyone more notable than a post-steroids Erkan Teper since 2011 and got sparked out by the aforementioned Washington in 2019.

Helenius ended up battering him into submission in the fourth, earning a “gold” title from the WBA in the process, and while the likes of Jeison Rosario vs. Julian Williams and Teofimo Lopez vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko dominated when it came time to discuss the year’s biggest upsets, this one was a doozy. The rematch figures to be plenty interesting, particularly when it comes to the all-offense Kownacki’s potential adjustments.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kownacki aiming for revenge against Helenius

“Even my manager (Keith Connolly) suggested that maybe I need someone different before we can fight again. My thinking ‘if I cannot beat Robert Helenius, how could I believe that I can challenge champions like Joshua or Fury?’ Before Robert knocked me on my ass, I won every round,” – heavyweight Adam Kownacki (20-1, 15 KO) talks about his upcoming rematch with Robert Helenius (30-3, 19 KO), his new training camp and new motivation: his son Kaziu.

Getting ready for another training day, what’s your schedule for today?

Did cardio this morning, like I do every day, for several weeks already. Then boxing training, short break, and training again. Three times a day, to be ready for the Robert (Helenius) rematch. To prove that what happened a year ago in Barclays Center was just a just moment of weakness.

Before we talk about that, after you posted training pictures on Instagram, some of the fans who criticized you for being too heavy in the March 2020 Helenius fight are now saying that you’re too skinny…

Right now I’m about 260+, like I was then but we have still some weeks to go, so it’s fine. I will probably lose ten extra pounds. Going down, with so much work is easy. I feel great already, sparring 10 rounds – no problem.

Some are saying that you were at your best weight when you knocked out Artur Szpilka, almost four years ago. Agree/disagree?

I was lighter but Szpilka was also light, smaller – a different fighter than the big 6’11 big and strong champs we have now, so I needed extra speed. Now I need extra pounds to not give Robert a chance to push me around. When it comes to weight, most important is to have solid, strong weight – not fat. We’re working on it.

Did you and trainer Keith Trimble need any changes after your first professional defeat vs. Helenius?

It all started with me. I needed a break, some privacy, a mental assessment where I am, where I want to go. I bought property in Hunter, NY, two hours away from New York. I moved my training camp there. After I worked by myself, running, heavy bag, all that. We vanished with Keith for three weeks. Lots of sparring time, three times a week, running.

Keith is an under-appreciated boxing trainer – he knows a lot. We work on fundamentals, have a lot of time to train and just talk about what I do wrong or right. Basically for the first time, because it was hard to do that when we were working at his gym. I have a feeling that it will change a lot. It worked for everyone. Keith could go back home for the weekend, my wife Justyna and my son, 18-month old Kaziu were coming to visit. I would not say weekend was a day or two of doing nothing – “Kaz” is an acrobat, unstoppable! It’s unreal how much happiness and new energy this young man can give me.

From the start, you wanted an immediate rematch with Helenius. A rematch against the first fighter who stopped you – no easy tune-up bouts.

True. Even my manager (Keith Connolly) suggested that maybe I need someone different before we can fight again. My thinking – if I can’t beat Robert Helenius, how could I believe that I can challenge champions like Joshua or Fury? Before he knocked me on my ass, I won every round. Helenius is a smart fighter, a boxing veteran and I just wanted to slug with him after being down…this is my character, another lesson learned. I didn’t want to waste another year. I wanted to be where I was before the first fight with Robert – being a title contender.

There are several reports that you will be back on March 6 – could you confirm that?

I doubt our fight will happen on March 6, but this is boxing. It’s a cliche, but all I can control is to be 100 percent ready when Kownacki-Helenius 2 will be announced officially. I trust Al Haymon who helped me from the beginning of my career and when I said ‘I want to fight Helenius again,’ he delivered. I’m ready, another set of sparring sessions for this week is scheduled (against Otto Wallin). I’m ready to vanish again with my trainer in the Catskills, finish our camp and be victorious in the ring again.

[margaret thatcher]

kownacki got hurt in round 2, before the stoppage in the 4th, it wasnt just getting suddenly caught cold

if kow cant take his power, he's gonn struggle to beat him, cuz you know helenius is at least gonna land with how easy it is to hit kow

[DrDuke]

kownacki got hurt in round 2, before the stoppage in the 4th, it wasnt just getting suddenly caught cold

if kow cant take his power, he's gonn struggle to beat him, cuz you know helenius is at least gonna land with how easy it is to hit kow

Right. And Kownacki is a type of a fighter unlikely to change.

[H8Usernames]

Kownacki was always trash. Helenius showed up with his confidence low having tasted defeat a few times and gotten koed. Now he will be going in there with his confidence high vs a Kownacki that will be trying to do something new which he isnt very good at. Easy win for Helenius.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kownacki-Helenius Rematch, Efe Ajagba-Frank Sanchez Slated For Fury-Wilder Undercard

The third battle between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder won’t be the only intriguing heavyweight fight to take place July 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

BS.com has learned that the rematch between Adam Kownacki and Robert Helenius is expected to be placed on the Fury-Wilder undercard. BS.com also has confirmed that representatives for unbeaten heavyweights Efe Ajagba and Frank Sanchez are close to finalizing a deal for them to square off as part of an ESPN/FOX Sports pay-per-view venture.

Heavyweight Jared Anderson (9-0, 9 KOs), a promising prospect promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., will be showcased in the pay-per-view opener against an opponent to be announced.

The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger was the first Tuesday night to report the Ajagba-Sanchez fight on Twitter.

As was the case with the Fury-Wilder rematch in February 2020, Top Rank (ESPN) and Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (FOX Sports) each have the contractual right to one pay-per-view undercard bout apiece – Kownacki-Helenius II for PBC and Anderson’s fight for Top Rank – and one shared bout besides Fury-Wilder on the pay-per-view show (Ajagba-Sanchez).

Kownacki will attempt to avenge his surprising fourth-round, technical-knockout defeat to Finland’s Helenius in March 2020 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Kownacki’s hometown. Helenius (30-3, 19 KOs) knocked down the heavily favored Kownacki (20-1, 15 KOs) twice during the fourth round of a fight FOX televised.

Helenius and Kownacki agreed to terms for their rematch late last year. Their second bout was expected to be broadcast earlier this year as a “PBC On FOX” main event, but instead is an intriguing addition to the Fury-Wilder III undercard.

Nigeria’s Ajagba (15-0, 12 KOs) and Cuba’s Sanchez (18-0, 13 KOs) will meet in a high-stakes scrap that’ll legitimize one of them as a heavyweight contender.

Ajagba, a 2016 Olympian, was showcased by Haymon’s PBC before he signed a multi-fight contract with Top Rank last year. Sanchez is a PBC-affiliated fighter who has had his past two bouts streamed by DAZN as part of stablemate Canelo Alvarez’s undercards.

England’s Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs), the WBC champion, and Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will fight for the third time in the main event July 24.

Fury dropped Wilder twice and won their rematch by seventh-round technical knockout when Wilder’s assistant trainer, Mark Breland, threw in the towel to spare Wilder from taking more punishment at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Wilder knocked down Fury twice in their first fight, which resulted in a 12-round split draw in December 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

[joshj909]

Two good undercards matchups trying to make up for the main event that nobody is particularly bothered by.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Two good undercards matchups trying to make up for the main event that nobody is particularly bothered by.

3 hw fights.

trying to make the card appealing.

I seen some comments, people saying they weren't gonna buy the trilogy, but with these fights, it's tempting.

[hhaehre]

I was lighter but Szpilka was also light, smaller – a different fighter than the big 6’11 big and strong champs we have now, so I needed extra speed. Now I need extra pounds to not give Robert a chance to push me around. When it comes to weight, most important is to have solid, strong weight – not fat. We’re working on it.

Like many fat people Kownacki is totally delusional. His weight is not "strong", he's fat and being fat is the opposite of being in shape.

[gregregegg]

I was lighter but Szpilka was also light, smaller – a different fighter than the big 6’11 big and strong champs we have now, so I needed extra speed. Now I need extra pounds to not give Robert a chance to push me around. When it comes to weight, most important is to have solid, strong weight – not fat. We’re working on it.

Like many fat people Kownacki is totally delusional. His weight is not "strong", he's fat and being fat is the opposite of being in shape.

Na he is in shape when fat. Just not very good. Look at his arreola fight and tell me he is the opposite of being in shape. Threw like 1000 punches or some madnesses took a lot too which requires fitness.

[KiwiRider]

Two good undercards matchups trying to make up for the main event that nobody is particularly bothered by.

3 hw fights.

trying to make the card appealing.

I seen some comments, people saying they weren't gonna buy the trilogy, but with these fights, it's tempting.

Sealed the deal
I enjoyed Helenius picking Kownaki apart, and love it when fighters want redemption - seems all to common for losing prospects to take a few soft fights and steer towards another title option. Kudos to Adam sill think that if Helenius has spent some quality gym time, he does it again.

[watsupdoc87]

3 heavy fights where there's a chance of anybody winning. Should be a good night

[hhaehre]

I was lighter but Szpilka was also light, smaller – a different fighter than the big 6’11 big and strong champs we have now, so I needed extra speed. Now I need extra pounds to not give Robert a chance to push me around. When it comes to weight, most important is to have solid, strong weight – not fat. We’re working on it.

Like many fat people Kownacki is totally delusional. His weight is not "strong", he's fat and being fat is the opposite of being in shape.

Na he is in shape when fat. Just not very good. Look at his arreola fight and tell me he is the opposite of being in shape. Threw like 1000 punches or some madnesses took a lot too which requires fitness.

My point is that he would be fitter and a better athlete if he wasn't fat. This is true for athletes in any sport and while you can have success while being fat in some sports like baseball, golf and boxing it is my contention that you'd be even more successful not being fat. Outside of football (linemen) and sumo wrestling where weight itself is an asset I simply cannot understand why a professional athlete would be fat.

[emallini]

Entertainment guaranteed in this one.