Frank Bruno
Frank Bruno on BBC Radio 5 Live

Former WBC heavyweight champion Frank Bruno on Anthony Joshua pressure: "There's always going to be pressure. He lost to Ruiz and lost to Usyk. He's in front of his fans and he's rusty."

Image source, Getty Images

There has been a lot of focus on Anthony Joshua this week and his decision to accept a late replacement, admitting he felt a responsibility to fighters on the undercard and ensuring they still had a card to compete on.

But Robert Helenius deserves a big pat on the back too.

Helenius' manager, Markus Sundman, was offered the bout on Saturday afternoon but the Finn was due to feature later that day at a 1,500-seater Medieval castle in his homeland.

That venue - Olavinlinna, also known at St Olaf's Castle - is world away from London's O2 Arena.

After taking just under three rounds to beat Mika Mielonen, Helenius was told of the offer on the table and it took just "five or 10 minutes" until he gave the thumbs up.

"My manager knew before but didn't say anything before the fight," Helenius says.

"They told me, 'We need to tell you something'. 'We have news. Would you like to fight Anthony Joshua?' I was like, 'What? I've just fought'."

The 39-year-old was due to be going on holiday with his family after the fight but those plans have been shelved for the time being

"It was with the kids going up in the forest, just fishing and hunting, living by the cabin," he said.

"I was like, 'Let's do this. I'm ready. This is what we do'.

"When I win on Saturday it's going to be tremendous. My career's going to go upwards again."

Ronald McIntosh
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

If you're getting victories at this level then why should Derek Chisora listen to people saying he should turn it in?

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at O2 Arena, London

After Derek Chisora's name was read out as the winner there were huge cheers from the crowd, and plenty of tuts and shakes of the head from the ringside media. A controversial decision.

That wasn't pretty but Derek Chisora gets the win over Gerald Washington by unanimous decision.

The judges scored it 98-93, 97-94 and 96-94.

Image source, Matchroom

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at O2 Arena, London

Derek Chisora battled back well, using every bit of his experience and heart. Whatever the result, it's hard to see where Chisora goes from here. With the amount of punches he took cleanly tonight, putting him in against a big puncher of any kind will be dangerous. Retirement may be on the cards.

Derek Chisora and Gerald Washington go the distance.

We're waiting on the judges for a decision.

Fast-forward 48 hours and Anthony Joshua wasn't handing out any praise to Robert Helenius when they stood inches apart at the face-off.

There was an intensity about the Briton that you'd have expected if he was up against an opponent he'd etched into his brain over weeks and weeks during a training camp.

Joshua said: "You got a problem with me?"

"I don't got a problem with you," Helenius repled.

AJ instructed Helenius to "stop acting up", adding: "Let's stay calm, let's stay cool."

Make no mistake, Joshua isn't taking this lightly tonight.

We got our first sight of Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius together at the news conference on Wednesday.

It was pretty well mannered as far as these types of events usually go.

Joshua did vow "to inflict pain" but that's nothing new for two boxers and he said the Finn was "just a rock in his shoe on the way up the mountain."

He also said Helenius deserved credit for stepping in "to roll the dice."

Image source, Matchroom

UFC star Conor McGregor is in the building, much to the delight of the fans in the O2 Arena.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at O2 Arena, London

We'll be close to, if not beyond, 23:00 BST when the first bell of the main event rings. It appears Matchroom were banking on some early knockouts tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Dillian Whyte's failed voluntary drugs test means we don't quite have a blockbuster headline act tonight.

For the third time in 12 months, boxing is facing serious questions about the sport's credibility and its anti-doping protocols.

In October last year Conor Benn's bout with Chris Eubank Jr was cancelled in fight week after it emerged Benn had failed two voluntary drug tests. Benn has always protested his innocence, as does Whyte.

Amir Khan was banned for two years after an anti-doping test revealed the presence of a banned substance following his fight against Kell Brook in February 2022.

The case was not heard by an independent tribunal until January 2023. Khan fell foul of UKad's strict liability clause, which essentially means a fighter will be given a lengthy ban regardless of intent.

Anthony Joshua didn't pull any punches when he was asked about whether boxing has an issue with doping.

He said: "I don't know how they're going to sort it out or what their solution is to this problem. But it [boxing] clearly has a problem."

"The thing is, people do wonder 'how long has this been going on?'.

"It makes me wonder 'how long has this situation been going on?'. In a way, I'm not shocked anymore in boxing."

Read more here.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at O2 Arena, London

Fans attending tonight were offered a full refund when Dillian Whyte was withdrawn from the main event.

The arena doesn't usually completely fill up until just before the main event so only then will we truly know how many decided Joshua-Helenius was still worth their hard-earned cash.

But the venue was already about two thirds full when popular Essex heavyweight Johnny Fisher made his entrance at around 20:00 BST.

And there are now just a few scattered empty blue seats here and there. I predict we won't be too far off a full house.

Heavyweight Derek Chisora: "Any fighter can cause anybody problems. Everything is always hard. AJ was prepared to fight Dillian and now his brain's changing. This is what world champions are made of. He has to adjust. First round, figure him out. Second round, figure him out [some more] and in the third round he's going to have to knock him out. I want him to do it that quick - I need him to do that it that quick."

Boxing coach Shane McGuigan: "This is a showcase for Anthony Joshua - knock him out. Dillian Whyte had vulnerabilities. He's been over and knocked out a few times and Helenius is the same."

Super-middleweight John Ryder: "AJ is going to struggle to find his range early on with Helenius being the taller, bigger man. But I think by round eight AJ will get hold of him and the fight should be over. I think this is potentially a tougher fight than Whyte but I feel AJ will handle it and move on to bigger and better."

A tough fight so far against Gerald Washington for Derek Chisora.

Image source, PA Media

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at O2 Arena, London

You just need to look at the faces of both men. Chisora is bloodied. Breathing with his mouth open. Washington walked back to his corner at the end of round four with a smile.

Chisora is looking every part of a 47-fight veteran, a man who made his debut 16 years ago. He might still be able to pull something out the bag here, like he has on many occasions before.

We've just gone into round five of this fight between Derek Chisora and Gerald Washington.

Chisora has a cut just above the corner of his right eye. It doesn't look great but the blood, at least, is falling away from the eye so he doesn't seem to have any issues with seeing his opponent.

It hasn't been the most technical fight you'll see with wild shots coming from both directions.

Image source, Matchroom

Welterweight boxer Conor Benn is in the house at the O2 Arena as he prepares to watch Anthony Joshua take on Robert Helenius.

Been has been at the centre of a doping investigation but last month had his suspension lifted after the National Anti-Doping Panel heard his case.

Image source, Matchroom

Anthony Joshua looking as calm as ever as he gets his hands wrapped in the changing rooms.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at O2 Arena, London

'Girl Dad' was etched back of Chisora's pink robe. The Londoner's two young daughters are in attendance.