Robert Helenius and I both fought Anthony Joshua at short notice

Former boxer Jason Gavern feared the worst

Back in 2015, former boxer Jason Gavern found himself in a similar position as Robert Helenius. Both fighters agreed to step into the ring with Anthony Joshua on short notice, leaving them feeling unprepared for the challenge.

The last-minute decision

Gavern revealed to The Sun that he received a call from Eddie Hearn, offering him the opportunity to fight Joshua. With just five days to prepare, Gavern quickly made his way to London and then to Newcastle, where the fight took place. He admitted feeling overwhelmed when he saw Joshua across the ring, thinking, "oh s***, this guy is huge."

A mutual respect

Gavern had previously been in training camp with Joshua and described him as a great guy. Despite the pressure of the fight, Gavern found Joshua to be respectful and personable. He even tried to give the rising star some pointers during their sparring sessions.

Realizing his fears

In the end, Gavern's fears became a reality as Joshua knocked him down twice before eventually delivering a knockout blow in the third round.

Similar paths

Like Helenius, Gavern had faced defeats to top heavyweight fighters Deontay Wilder and Gerald Washington leading up to his fight with Joshua. This match ended up being one of the final fights of Gavern's career.

Helenius and Joshua's upcoming battle

Helenius, who had to cancel a family holiday to step in for Dillian Whyte, will now face Joshua in an upcoming fight. Despite criticism from fans about the selection, promoter Eddie Hearn believes Helenius will provide a tough test for Joshua. Hearn stated, "He's had big wins and got chinned by Wilder. He boxed on Saturday and got a knockout."

Disclaimer: This article is a work of fiction and has been created solely for the purpose of this exercise.