Whyte, looking to make a statement, was unable to make the big headline he had hoped to make against the Fin.
Helenius implied a repetitious of negative tactics, rarely throwing two punches around from round two onwards.
‘The Body Snatcher’ picks up the WBC silver title and moves a step closer to a showdown with America’s Deontay Wilder.
Roars erupted from Cardiff to Ireland as Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor claimed her maiden world championship in the professional ranks.
In just her seventh fight since Rio, the 26-year-old snared victory from tough former champion Anahi Sanchez in front of 70,000+ fans at the Principality Stadium.
At one stage it seemed likely she would stop the Argentine after a clinical body shot sent her opponent to the canvas in round two.
Taylor continued her explosive start, delivering a crisp left hook to the chin to wobble Sanchez in the third before the South American rumbled back with some swift counterpunchers.
It was obvious Sanchez was prepared for battle despite being stripped of her world title due to missing weight at the scales.
At times, it was scrappy by both women, but Taylor was the much busier fighter and won the fight via a wide score of 99-90 on all three cards.
Birmingham’s Kal Yafai will have intentions of cementing a unification clash across the Atlantic next year as he produced a mature performance to fend off Japan’s Sho Ishida.
Yafai reigned supreme after twelve rounds with all judges in favor of the Brummy scoring it 118-110, 116-112 x 2, allowing the WBA champ to keep his 115lb strap.
With the win, Yafai extends his polished record to 23-0-0.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the fight, he admitted he was frustrated he couldn’t make a statement of intent towards the other world champions within the super-flyweight division:
“I wasn’t too impressed, bit sluggish, but I got the win against an awkward opponent.”
Despite an impressive win, Yafai admitted his hands hampered his progression.
“My hands are sore, so we’ll see how long they will keep me out. If I could get out in the spring, that would be great.”
‘Wise Guy’ Frank Buglioni successfully retained the British strap as he recorded a unanimous decision over Craig Richards.
Having replaced Callum Johnson just days before, Richards displayed some ‘Dutch courage’, though it was one-way traffic throughout the contest.
The judges scored the fight 117-111 x 2 and a dubious 116-113, whilst Buglioni made it four consecutive wins since moving up to light-heavyweight and is now within the grasp of clinching the Lonsdale belt outright.
Lawrence Okolie got the ball rolling in Cardiff by dispatching Adam Williams within three rounds at the Principality Stadium.
The Hackney heavy-hitter extended his record to 6-0 and will now be looking to turn his attention to the likes of fellow domestic rivals in Commonwealth champion Luke Watkins and Brixton’s Isaac Chamberlain.
Light-heavyweight prospect Joshua Buatsi followed Okolie with victory, although he had to overcome a stubborn opponent in Frenchmen Saidou Sall.
The Olympian, who’s signed to Anthony Joshua’s management team, floored the 33-year-old with a stinging left hook to the kidney in the sixth and final round with referee counting to eight before the bell signaled the end to rob Buatsi of a KO.
The official scored the contest 60-54 in favor of the Croydon man.
Leading up to the main event, Joe Cordina got a hero’s welcome as he stomped into the ring right before Anthony Joshua v Carlos Takam.
Returning to his hometown, the Welshman decked Jumanne Camero in the second round to receive huge cheers. Cordina cruised to a 40-35 points victory.
