LAPLAND TO LONDON

Helenius was talked out of a family camping and hunting trip to take on AJ at the 02

- CHRIS MCKENNA

ROBERT HELENIUS was heading for Lapland before the Anthony Joshua fight landed in his lap and all his Christmases came at once.

The Finnish heavyweight still had his hands wrapped after beating Mika Mielonen in an opera room of a castle in his homeland last Saturday when his manager asked him if he fancied facing Joshua.

AJ was in need of a new opponent after Dillian Whyte provided a positive drug test and the clash was cancelled.

Helenius, 39, took 10 minutes to mull it over before he sent Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn a video message and told his manager to thrash out a deal.