Robert Helenius Dominates Against Adam Kownacki, Wins Via DQ
Inside a packed T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Robert Helenius was able to prove that his last fight against Adam Kownacki was not a fluke.
Before Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury fought in Las Vegas, Helenius beat Kownacki via TKO (referee called for the DQ) in the sixth round. This was a rematch from their bout in March 2020, when Helenius won in the fourth round after knocking Kownacki down several times. Kownacki was warned multiple times by the referee for low blows. When he didn’t comply, and it was obvious Kownacki couldn’t fight back, the referee had no choice but to stop the fight.
“Either way, it would have been a stoppage,” Helenius stated. “I had a lot of good shots tonight and he didn’t have any.”
In the last fight, Kownacki looked crisp and ready to respond to anything Helenius was throwing. This time, however, Helenius’ shots could not be answered. “The Nordic Nightmare” landed combination shots early on, landing a left uppercut that pushed Kownacki back. Kownacki was reaching for hard shots, but Helenius would use his reach to his advantage. Helenius ended the first by putting Kownacki up against the ropes.
Robert Helenius barrage of punches hurts Adam Kownacki in round 1! 🔥
Buy #FuryWilder3 PPV: https://t.co/Oz3QzMA9pP pic.twitter.com/oZ5l84nyJi
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) October 10, 2021
Kownacki looked sharp in round two, but a noticeable shiner was below his eye. Round three saw all of Kownacki’s momentum slip away. Helenius landed multiple combinations that pushed Kownacki back. The latter would hit the first of many below-the-belt shots right before the bell rang. Kownacki tried to recover in round four, but combination shots and uppercuts were key in Helenius’ win. The former’s nose was busted open and he looked tired.
The second low blow by Kownacki in the fifth warranted a point deduction. Helenius would hit more volume shots and backed Kownacki up with an overhand. Continuing to pound away in round six, Helenius was not going to be stopped.
Robert Helenius is dominating Adam Kownacki, sending him into the ropes in round 5! 💥
Buy #FuryWilder3 PPV: https://t.co/Oz3QzMA9pP pic.twitter.com/1VLNtjBQSV
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) October 10, 2021
The referee warned Kownacki of another low blow, and seeing the damage he was taking, decided the fight had to stop.
According to CompuBox, Helenius landed 129 shots compared to Kownacki’s 52. He landed double-digit shots in every round except the second.
While it was a DQ, Helenius still won his third fight in a row. He is now next in line for the WBA Heavyweight Title, currently being held by Oleksandr Usyk. Kownacki has now lost two in a row for the first time in his young career.