Dillian Whyte can edge closer to a world title fight when he faces Robert Helenius on the Anthony Joshua-Kubrat Pulev bill, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The Brixton heavyweight battles the towering Helenius for the WBC Silver belt on the same night as bitter rival Joshua’s world title fight with Pulev at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on October 28.
Whyte (21-1-KO16) has been pursuing a fight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder and a victory will keep him in line for a shot at the ‘Bronze Bomber.’
“This is a fight we have been working on for some time and I’m pleased to add it to the huge October 28 show in Cardiff,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.
“I think we have made it very clear, we want to make Dillian Whyte versus Deontay Wilder and this WBC Silver title will put us in prime position.
“Helenius is a giant of a man with plenty of experience and this is a tough test for Dillian, it’s going to be explosive.”
Helenius (25-1-KO16) is best known in Britain for his contentious points win over Dereck Chisora, who Whyte defeated last December in one of the best fights of 2016.
The ‘Nordic Nightmare’, a former European champion, has welcomed the challenge of coming to these shores to face another Londoner.
“This is a huge fight and I’m excited about fighting the winner of last December’s thriller between Whyte and Chisora,” he said.
“Me and Chisora were scheduled to fight in May, but he ran. To my understanding Dillian is not a runner and he will stand and fight.
“This is a big fight for the heavyweight division and may the best man win.”
This crucial heavyweight clash is added to a stacked undercard at the Principality Stadium, with Kal Yafai defending his WBA super-flyweight title against unbeaten Japanese challenger Sho Ishida.
Katie Taylor will also try to capture a world title in just her seventh bout when she challenges Anahi Esther Sanchez for the WBA lightweight belt and Frank Buglioni defends his British light-heavyweight title against the big-hitting Callum Johnson.