Robert Helenius, the Finnish heavyweight boxer, delivers a long uppercut on the chin of his Belarusian counterpart, Yury Bykhatsou, at Olavinlinna in Savonlinna, Finland on August 11, 2018. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
Five months ago, he broke his right hand against Belarusian Yury Bykhatsou (10-16-3), but still won with a split decision, which left the doubters questioning the result.
On Saturday night, during a rematch, he went to beast mode, dominated the fight and won by a unanimous decision (60-55, 58-57, 59-55).
One could say that Robert Helenius (26-2-0), 34, the most prominent Finnish heavyweight boxer, is back.
But he never left.
He just stayed quiet and worked on his weaknesses.
Eat the jab. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
People said that they refuse to watch a fighter such as Helenius who gasses out in the first two or three rounds.
On Saturday, during the six-round fight, Helenius looked like he could be belting Bykhatsou all night.
And he could but it would be outright dangerous for a fighter like Bykhatsou who proved that he can take a serious beating and still keep going because a fight is not lost by the number of remaining brain cells.
A shovel hook on the chin. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
Olavinlinna, the medieval castle where the fight took place, was tailored for the clash of boxing giants.
Located in Savonlinna, in the southeast of Finland, a town burnt down several times by the Russians and Swedes, the castle stands today as a symbol of resilience.
During the fight, Bykhatsou gave his all, pushing, pushing and attacking with wild swings and dangerous hooks, but only if he could land them.
He couldn’t.
Helenius countered with his trademark shovel hooks to the body and sometimes on the chin.
A furious overhead hook. Followed by screams. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
“AAAAAAAA!” Bykhatsou screamed and attacked again.
Helenius stayed away and kept belting.
The big hall with stone walls was packed with a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. They were screaming and stomping their feet on the wooden floor of the stands and from below, where beer was served, it sounded like a hundred galloping horses.
“Hit him!” the crowd screamed.
Helenius did.
“More! More!”
Helenius kindly filled their requests.
After six full rounds, the fight was over.
Bykhatsou hung his head low, defeated.
Helenius raised his hands for victory.
He smiled.
It had been a while.
Helenius raises his hands for victory. Cutman Ervin Kade on the left and trainer Johan Lindström on the right. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today
