Helenius Looks Rusty, Beats Williams

The Nordic Nightmare Robert Helenius came back after almost a year layoff, against Sherman Williams, in a scrap which unfolded at the Ice Hall in Helsinki, Finland, where Helenius, a Swedish-born fighter, is a big deal. Helenius didn't blow anyone away, as rust showed, but he did exit with a UD10 win, by scores of 99-91, 99-93, 98-93.

The fight was shown on EPIX, after the vastly more entertaining Wladimir Klitschko-Mariusz Wach fight.

Helenius hurt his shoulder in his last bout, a SD12 win over Dereck Chisora, which many thought he lost. He wasn't all that busy, averaging just 36 punches thrown a round, ten fewer than the average heavyweight through three. He rarely committed to nastiness and often threw and then started backing out before falling through. Tank buzzed the Swede with an overhand right in round five but then went back into a shell. The 6-6 hitter did what he needed to do against the 5-11 Williams, but looked rusty, again, and dispassionate. He went to 18-0, and the loser dropped to 35-12. Helenius needs some more fights to get in the front of the line to meet Klitschko.

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