Preview: Robert Helenius vs Dereck Chisora

by Trey Pollard

Once renowned for producing the most exciting fighters in the game, the heavyweight division is now known mostly for recycling them. Throughout the last decade of mechanical domination by the Klitschko brothers, the supporting cast of heavyweight contenders lurking in the shadows and occasionally thrown to the Ukranian thresher looks remarkably similar to what it did ten years ago.

Even once-great champions now justly regarded as shot - like Evander Holyfield - still linger on the fringe, waiting for the very real possibility of a big money fight with Vlad or Witali, who seem to be running out of opponents to pummel. The heavyweight division is in dire need of new faces and new blood. Thankfully, Saturday’s card from Helsinki, Finland – of all places – will offer just that, as the fight between Robert Helenius and Dereck Chisora will showcase some of the more exciting prospects in the division trying to make the step to the upper echelons of the sport.

The contrasts between Helenius and Chisora really could not be more dramatic. On the one hand, Helenius (16-0) is a massive, balding Finnish freak with a hammer of a right hand that forced ex-champion Lamon Brewester to sulk into retirement. His fighting style is quite simple, defined by a bolt-upright stance and a powerful, quick left jab-straight right combination sometimes accented by devastating right hooks to the gut. His clear preference is to box from the outside; while his opponents flounder to move inside, he delivers precise and sharp jabs that have sent opponents to the canvas by themselves.

Helenius’ sensibility is just as austere. From appearances, he’s been recycling the same few pairs of trunks the last three years and chooses the same ring entrance music time and again. There are few instances of documented shit-talking by Helenius and his demeanor in the ring is defined by patience and calm, often waiting for his opponent to wear down before claiming a knockout.

Former British titlist Dereck Chisora (15-1), on the other hand, once tried to bite a man’s ear off in the ring. Obviously not an innovator as a gourmand, he did it against middling opponent Paul Butlin, who probably didn’t warrant that level of attention. The antics don’t stop there. During a weigh-in jawing session, Chisora – a used car dealer in his spare time - told opponent Carl Baker that “I’m going to make you my girlfriend” before planting a kiss on his face. Before a fight against Tyson Fury, the high-rising prospect of Irish descent, Chisora came to the ring draped in the Union Jack while a mocking Irish tune blared over the loudspeakers.

Chisora is clearly flashy but also unafraid to face top level competition. For the Helenius fight he’s venturing outside the UK for the first time. Beyond that, he had Vlad Klitschko on his calendar twice but the Ukranian backed out both times, leaving Chisora to resort to the shallow pool of British heavyweight talent and Eastern European tomato cans.

Whether Klitschko was worried about Chisora’s style is unknown, but before Fury, Chisora was able to dart off 14 wins with no real problems. A pressure fighter with a good defense and decent speed, Chisora prefers to be inside. His strong chin absorbs much of the punishment he takes to get in, where he can whirl powerful rights around his opponent’s guard or fire combinations that damage the body. And at just 6'1”, he doesn’t make it easy on opponents by fighting in a leaning stance that shrinks the target.

With a five-inch height advantage undiluted by such a lean, Helenius will try to keep Chisora away with his power and reach. Fury had similar size against Chisora, but the Irishman’s careless defense created opportunities which Chisora exploited with bull rushing combinations and a wide left hook that put Fury in trouble for the first time in his career.

But Helenius has fought off successful and talented pressure fighters before. While he won a questionable decision against unheralded Nigerian Gbenga Oloukun in his first dalliance with that style, he also adapted to shorten his range and punish subsequent – and progressively tougher – inside efforts from Attila Levin, Samuel Peter, and Siarhei Liakhovich. With each, he absorbed significant blows while building on his trademark one-two and even transforming a left usually reserved for jabbing into a devastating hook that ended Peter’s night.

That poses a tough challenge for the erratic Chisora, who hasn’t shown the discipline of the ex-champions Helenius has mowed down. His advantage will be his chin, having never been down in his career. Early on against the heavy-handed Fury Chisora took numerous punches and stayed swinging, which he will have to do to get inside and knockout Helenius – the only surefire way to get a win on Finnish soil.

On the other hand, Chisora was clearly exhausted by the late rounds against Fury, punching only in frenzied flourishes that did damage, but not enough to take the rounds he needed to win.

Helenius, conversely, has never been past the ninth round. But that’s not a comment on his stamina, as his relaxed, patient boxing style keeps opponents away, requires little exertion, and causes enough pain to pave the way to a later round knockout.

Chisora will have to be successful enough early with his pressure to change that, because he’ll take significant punishment to come inside on Helenius. If he’s unable to damage Helenius early, its likely he won’t be disciplined enough to avoid a similar fate as those inside fighters who’ve faced the “Nordic Nightmare” before.

PREDICTION: HELENIUS KO 6