It is not Joshua’s fault that Whyte fell foul of a random dope test and is left pleading his innocence for a third time as he tries to salvage the fag end of his career.

But if Helenius is the answer then the question had to be how to find a substitute least likely to upset Joshua’s future plans.

Robert Helenius has been revealed as Anthony Joshua’s replacement opponent

Joshua (left) had been training to fight Dillian Whyte, but their bout was cancelled after a pre-fight drugs test returned an adverse analytical finding

Eddie Hearn insisted it is a ‘dangerous fight’ for AJ despite Helenius’ brutal first-round KO at the hands of Deontay Wilder last year

AJ is warming up this weekend for a projected mega-bucks bonanza fight with demolition puncher Wilder in Saudi Arabia in January.

Now Joshua, who banked scores of millions per outing when world heavyweight champion, is sure to have taken a substantial pay cut to get his comeback under way.

That is one reason why promoter Eddie Hearn is praising his marquee fighter for ‘his professionalism’ in rescuing Saturday’s event.

Hearn also talks up Helenius by describing the so-called Nordic Nightmare as ‘a very dangerous big puncher.’

Not as dangerous, it has to be said, as a couple of heavyweights who could have been promoted from the O2 undercard to face Joshua in the main event.

In particular undefeated Croatian Filip Hrgovic.

Joshua loyalists will still turn up and tune in to see their man in action for the first time after months of absence in Texas, where new trainer Derrick James had been rebuilding his confidence after two world title defeats by Olexsandr Usyk.

After yet another drugs controversy the wider boxing community will simply be hoping for a good clean fight

Joshua said he was ‘laser focused’ after the last-minute change to his opponent

Whyte’s adverse finding is not the first time he’s had run-ins with the anti-doping authorities.