I remember years ago when he was seen as a hot prospect. Max Kellerman spoke fondly of him. Then came the controversial gift decision over Derek Chisora and Helenius’s career began spiraling downward . He also took some time off due to injuries if I recall correctly. Should he have been better ?
No. His career got resuscitated with his win over Kownacki and his abysmal performance against Wilder. His skills were always very basic. He was a big strong HW with a punchers chance.
Can't imagine it was easy to build a career out of Finland. He had the goods. Big, decent movement for his size, good timing, strong punch. Not sure who else Johan Lindstrom guided to any success but would guess that a myriad of US trainers would have gotten him further.
He got derailed by injuries and had a long break I'm sure he could have been better He did get KO'd a few times which leads me to believe he wouldn't make it at the top level but may have been an interesting challenge to a belt holder closer to his prime
He probably could have been better without the injuries but only marginally. He's not some big "what if?" scenario.
Yes. If I remember this all correctly... He had a chronic right-hand injury, and going into the Chisora match, he had a shoulder tear. His promotor basically forced him to go through with the fight, and the shoulder was never the same again, and would-not be even serviceable for years. I THINK he also re-broke the hand in that fight. Somewhere along the line, he also took a terrible shot to the throat that semi-permanently damaged his vocal cords. There are old interviews of him talking like some kind of monster. Sugar-Bob Helenius may not have been a world-beater, but he came along at just the right right time, when the Klits needed opponents. Had he been allowed to rest that shoulder and hand, he would have contended for a title....and lost. But hey, it would have been something.
In all honesty I believe he didn’t reach full potential because he just didn't have the mental strength required
I am going to go with maybe. He was not just a puncher but a finisher, and there was a time when he looked very exciting.