“It´s good to be back home,” Helenius said. “We have trained very hard in Germany. We will use the last days to get ready mentally and physically. It will be a difficult fight but with Ulli Wegner in my corner nothing can go wrong.”

Just like Helenius, Braekhus is also determined to keep her unbeaten record. “To this day I have defeated everybody who has tried to take my titles away from me,” she said. “Saturday will be no different. I am prepared for a tough fight. I will leave the ring as the winner.”

WBA Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetkin and challenger Cedric Boswell will meet the press tomorrow. Some 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the show. “We expect a sell-out crowd of 12,000 fans on Saturday,” Team Sauerland sports director Hagen Doering said. “We are thrilled that Robert can count on the full backing of his home fans for what will be the toughest fight of his career.”

Q: Dereck, why will you leave the ring as the winner on December 3?

DC: “Because I’m back to my best. Nobody will beat me when I’m at my best.”

Q: What do you think about fighting in front of 12,000 wild Finnish fans?

DC: “No worries at all. The more the better, the crowd against me will really spur me on to win. I’ll be a bigger hit in Finland than Nokia!”

Q: You said in an interview with the Finnish press that you plan ”to make love to Helenius” in the ring. What do you mean by that?

DC: “Take that how you like it, I’ll make him mine on December 3.”

Q: What makes you so confident of success?

DC: “I’ve got to win or I have nowhere to go. Everything is on the line in this fight so I have to win to continue in my career and get a world title fight.”

Q: What are Helenius´ weaknesses?

DC: “He’s a good strong fighter and I’m looking forward to testing myself against him. I know whenever I hit someone clean they will go. So I look forward to seeing how his chin holds up.”

Q: Helenius has knocked out three former world champions. Are you scared of his punching power?

DC: “All heavyweights can bang, we’re big men, but its if you can take it and fire back. I’ll be in front of him all night long throwing bombs.”

Q: What do you think of Helenius´ personality?

DC: “I don’t know the guy, I’ll shake his hand after the fight. It’s all business in the ring, I don’t hate him, it’s just business to me.”

Q: What about the Klitschkos? You were ready to fight Wladimir when he pulled out due to injury. Are they ducking you? Would you still like to fight him?

DC: “I want the brothers and, yes, they are ducking me. I’ve got to beat Helenius and get the European title so I can be in a position to fight Wlad or Vitali.”

Q: Is Helenius your stepping stone to Klitschko?

DC: “I look at him more as an obstacle in the road and he’s got to be moved out of the way.”

Q: Why will you be better than in the Fury fight?

DC: “Because I’ve got the hunger back and I’m ready to do some damage. I’m training hard for this fight because I let myself down against Fury, I can beat Fury, I beat myself on that night.”

Q: “Finally, a message to the Finnish fans?

DC: “I’m sorry, but your boy is going down. But he’ll come back, just not while I’m on the scene!”

Finnish boxing sensation Robert Helenius’ opponent will be announced this Thursday at the official press conference in Helsinki for the upcoming event on December 3rd.

In addition to the internationally highly-ranked Helenius match, this upcoming event will feature two World Champions in action. Alexander Povetkin defends the WBA Heavyweight World Championship against Cedric Boswellia and Cecilia Braekhus defends her three Women’s Middleweight World Championship titles against Kuulei Kupiheaa.

In addtion to Helenius, other Finnish fighters in action at the event read: Edis Tatli, Jarno Rosberg and Jussi Koivula. Tatli will face Italian Pasquale Di Silvion, who is ranked above Tatli in the EU listings. Rosberg’s and Koivula’s opponents will be announced shortly.

”Finnish fight fans will indeed get a chance to see a stellar international boxing card in December. Top Heavyweight fights such as those on the card at Hartwall Arena are not something seen regularly, and in the lower weight classes you will see some world-class boxers” states event co-ordinator Pekka Mäki.

”Helenius’ opponent will be revealed this Thursday. There have been a host of interesting names thrown about and I am certain that a top name will be chosen as Robert’s opponent for this upcoming big Helsinki fight!” Mäki concludes.

“I wish Robert well for his fight in Helsinki,” Hyypiä said. “When you are a professional athlete plying your trade in a foreign country, it is very special when you return and get the chance to show your class in front of your home fans. We Finns in Germany have to stick together, so I send my best wishes out to Robert. He obviously is very talented and I was impressed when he defeated former world champion Lamon Brewster earlier this year. I am sure he will make the Finnish people proud and knock out his Swedish opponent.”

While Helenius will be counting on the boisterous support of his fans, Levin holds a significant advantage in terms of experience. The 33-year-old turned professional at the age of 20 and boasts an impressive record of 34 victories with just three defeats. He has knocked out 27 opponents, which makes for a fearsome KO ratio of 73 percent. During his illustrious career, Levin been in the ring with many big names, including the likes of Nikolai Valuev, the biggest and tallest champion of all time, and Ray Austin, whom he stopped in the ninth round. “Helenius is a good fighter with a big right hand,” Levin stated. “He fought well against (former WBO Heavyweight Champion) Lamon Brewster. I know he will have big home support in Helsinki. But I am travelling to Finland to win. My training has been going very well and I am in great shape already. I will leave the ring as the winner.”

On the same card, King Arthur Abraham and Carl “The Cobra” Froch collide for the vacant WBC Super-Middleweight Title in the third round of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Tickets are available via the Finnish ticket hotline + 358 600 900 900 and online at www.lippu.fi.

Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs), as always, had a proper reply. “I will be happy to give him a plastic crown after I am done with him. He will never get a real crown. And he will not get the WBC Title either. I think he is a good puncher but he is an even better talker. I don´t like to talk much before a fight. I prefer to let my fists do the talking in the ring on November 27.”

Froch also made fun of Abraham´s size, saying he brought in undersized sparring partners of around five feet. “That will be very good preparation for our fight,” Froch stated. “But I have a lot of respect for Abraham. He has good power and he is a fair sportsman. I am ready for an explosive fight. There will only be one winner and that is the Cobra.” Replied Abraham: “Inside the ring, size does not matter. All that matters is the head. And Carl Froch better has a clear head on November 27. If not, I will take it off.”

Abraham´s coach Ulli Wegner believes that Froch will be in for a painful night. “I don´t think he has realized yet how hard Arthur can punch,” the seven-time German coach-of-the-year said. “Once he finds out on November 27, it will be too late. We have prepared well for Froch. We have analysed him closely and know that he is a dangerous opponent. Froch is a tough guy, a former world champion and he has proven himself at Super-Middleweight. But he will not beat Arthur on November 27.”

Promoter Mick Hennessy said: “Styles make fights and with two explosive warriors such as Abraham and Carl going at it, this will be a fight-of-the-year candidate. It will be a true battle and I have no doubts that Carl will emerge victorious.” Abraham´s promoter Kalle Sauerland holds a different view. “We have respect for Carl Froch but I cannot wait for Arthur to give him a proper beating,” he said. “It will be a spectacular evening for the fans not just in Helsinki but all over the world. Arthur has basically been training since April and he cannot wait to finally get into the ring with Froch. It will be an explosive encounter, and mark my words, Arthur will be the new WBC Super-Middleweight Champion on November 27.”

Tickets are available via the Finnish ticket hotline + 358 600 900 900 and online at www.lippu.fi.

Helenius has set his sights to become an international superstar. Millions of German fans saw his victory over Tony on German public TV giant ARD back in August. “Whether in Germany, Finland, Scandinavia or America – the boxing fans love to see fighters with a big punch. As my record indicates – I have knocked out seven of my last eight opponents – I have a lot of power and I will make sure Levin will get a taste of it on November 27. I want to please my home fans in Helsinki and that is why I will knock Levin out.”

On the same card, King Arthur Abraham and Carl “The Cobra” Froch collide for the vacant WBC Super-Middleweight Title in the third round of the Super Six World Boxing Classic.

Tickets are available via the Finnish ticket hotline + 358 600 900 900 and online at www.lippu.fi.