Robert Helenius: A Return to the Ring, but in a Different Role
At 41, Robert Helenius has made headlines for declaring the end of his professional boxing career. Yet, it seems the sport continues to pull him back in. Helenius hasn’t chosen to step away entirely; instead, he’s embarking on a new chapter within the boxing world.
Recently appointed as the head coach of the Nordic Nightmare Boxing team, Helenius returned to the gym—not in his hometown of Porvoo, but at the Ringside Gym in Helsinki. It was a significant moment, as he shared the ring with up-and-coming professional boxer Ken Aliu, who showcased their training together on Instagram.
Aliu posted a photo wearing training gear alongside Helenius, capturing the intensity of their workout. “A hard week is coming to an end! The last hard training of the week and as you can see, it was hard,” he wrote in the caption, emphasizing the dedication they put into their training.
While it’s uncommon for Helenius to be spotted in different gyms lately, this session was particularly notable as it was attended by other fighters, including Spaniard José Antonio Sanchez and Anton Embulaev. Both will be competing at Elite Boxing’s event in Kirkkonummi this November. With records of 6–1 and 9–0, respectively, Aliu and Embulaev are promising talents in the early stages of their boxing journeys.
Helenius, for his part, enjoyed a rich professional career with a total of 37 bouts, 32 of which he won. It’s clear that even in retirement, his influence on the sport remains significant. Just last month, he made an appearance at the F2F Event, cornering fellow boxer Fitim Latif, further demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the boxing community.
As Helenius navigates this new role, fans will be watching closely to see how he shapes the next generation of fighters, blending his wealth of experience with fresh talent. The chapter may have changed, but for Helenius, the love of the sport certainly hasn’t faded.