of Robert Helenius38, the back is empty.
The heavyweight who is preparing for the last professional matches of his career is the only big name in the sport in Finland. Edis Tatli ended his career recently, and only among the active ones who took more than 10 professional matches Aku Kanninen is under 30 years old.
In amateur boxing Mira Potkonen brought wonderful Olympic achievements to Finland, but he also hung up his gloves on a nail.
– It’s not going very well at the moment. The number of competitors is not high in professionals or amateurs. The biggest names behind Helenius have retired, and there are no prize medalists among the current professionals.
– It’s hard to say who will be the next star, but when there aren’t many entrepreneurs, the chances are slim, IL’s martial arts expert Jaakko Dahlbacka evaluate.
Dahlbacka finds it problematic that there are not enough fighters in the professional ranks who would have already switched amateur rings to professional ones well in advance.
– If others have become professionals at the end of their careers and take a couple of matches against bus drivers in a village bar somewhere in Juupajoki, it does not set a good example for amateurs.
The most promising names can be found on the amateur side. Arslan Khataev boxed last year in the quarter-finals of the World Championship. Dahlbacka has an interesting wish for Khataev. In the women’s category, Pihla Kaivo-oja and Vilma Viitanen are possible adult competition medalists.
And who is it? Muhammad Abdilrasoon? They and the future of Finnish boxing are talked about in the Kulmamieste episode above.
Robert Helenius and Deontay Wilder will meet between Saturday and Sunday in Brooklyn, New York. You can watch the competition studio hosted by Dahlbacka Overkill from the Live Twitch channel.
Pihla Kaivo-oja has reaped success on the junior side. Jussi Saarinen