Unbeaten WBO Intercontinental Champion Robert Helenius (14-0, 9 KOs)
will face the next huge test on his way up the heavyweight rankings when
he collides with former world champion Sam Peter (34-4, 27 KOs) at the
Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany on April 2. “This is a dream
match-up of two nightmares,” promoter Kalle Sauerland said. “Robert has
taken the heavyweight world by storm and will continue his path to glory
with a victory over an accomplished champion like Peter.”
Helenius, the Nordic Nightmare, sent shockwaves through the
international boxing world by clinching four spectacular victories in
2010. In January, he stopped former world champion Lamon Brewster in the
eighth round before edging Gbenga Oloukun in Helsinki two months later.
In August, Helenius won the EU Heavyweight Title with a sixth-round TKO
victory over previously unbeaten Gregory Tony. In November, he pleased a
boisterous crowd at Helsinki´s Hartwall Areena when he stopped Attila
Levin the second round of their Scandinavian derby. “We are very pleased
with Robert´s development,” Team Sauerland´s sports director Hagen
Doering said. “We have moved him very fast because he is a very special
fighter with an incredible punch. Now is the time to take the next step,
which is a showdown with Peter, a very dangerous opponent. It will be a
spectacular fight. I am sure the Nordic Nightmare will topple the
Nigerian one.”
Peter is one of the biggest names in the heavyweight scene, having been
in the ring with both Klitschko brothers. In 2005, Peter knocked down
Wladimir Klitschko three times – only to lose on points. Two years
later, he beat Jameel McCline to win the Interim WBC Heavyweight Title
and then defeated Oleg Maskaev to become WBC Champion, a title he later
lost to Vitali Klitschko. In his last fight in September 2010, Peter
failed to take revenge on Wladimir Klitschko. “Sam Peter is one of the
biggest and best names out there and I look forward to proving myself
against him,” Robert Helenius said. “He has a tremendous punch and will
be very tough to beat. But I will not allow him to stop me on my way to
the top. It will be a great fight.”
