Heavyweight contender Robert Helenius is hoping that his recent victory will land him a mandatory shot at the winner of the upcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, who are being positioned to collide for a second time in the first quarter of 2022.

Last at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Usyk outboxed Joshua over twelve rounds to capture the four world titles.

Joshua has since exercised an immediate rematch clause.

Earlier this month, Helenius picked up a dominating TKO win in his pay-per-view rematch with Adam Kownacki. Their fight was part of the PPV card for the Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder trilogy fight.

The rematch with Kownacki was sanctioned by the WBA as a final eliminator.

Helenius and his handlers are hoping the WBA will order a mandatory fight with Usyk or Joshua in 2022.

"Right now we are focused on the WBA mandatory position," Helenius' manager Markus Sundman told Sky Sports.

"Robert fought a WBA elimination bout in March 2020 against Adam Kownacki, and he placed a stamp on that victory in the rematch on October 9. Usyk should really be Robert's next bout. There is no more deserving challenger in the WBA. Charr, Bryan, Dubois, are they more deserving? I think not.

"Sometimes you have to dig your heels in the ground and fight for something important, and I can't think of anything in sport more important than the heavyweight championship. We will do what is necessary to assure Robert's rightful position as Usyk's next WBA mandatory.

"In the end, of course we have respect for [WBA President] Gilberto [Mendoza] and the WBA, and we think that ultimately they will do the correct thing and formally order Robert as the next mandatory. The WBA mandatory is due next, and that must be Robert."