Former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder made a spectacular triumphant return after a year-long layoff, knocking out Finland’s Robert Helenius within the first spherical on Saturday.
Wilder stopped Helenius after two minutes and 57 seconds with a robust proper hand punch to the face, enhancing the American’s document to 43-2 with one drawn and 42 KOs.
“It was an ideal night time,” Wilder mentioned.
Wilder, his again towards the ropes, answered a mix with a brief however stable proper to the nostril of Helenius, who fell to the canvas on his again as Wilder walked away, his night time full after three punches.
“I needed to take my time. I used to be making him attain,” Wilder mentioned. “I wished to be cellular, agile and hostile. I set him up, allowed him to succeed in after which when he reached, I attacked.”
Medical doctors rushed to the 38-year-old inclined Finnish fighter, who slowly rose to his knees. Helenius, a former Wilder sparring accomplice whose document fell to 31-4, finally departed the ring underneath his personal energy.
Per week shy of his thirty seventh birthday, Wilder climbed into the ring for the primary time since an Eleventh-round knockout defeat to Britain’s Tyson Fury final October. Wilder had misplaced his World Boxing Council crown and unbeaten standing to Fury in 2020.
“We wished to make this enjoyable once more,” Wilder mentioned. “You are able to do this so lengthy it may be a job, simply one thing you’re doing. We made it enjoyable. It paid off huge time.”
Wilder’s victory doubtless units up a 2023 combat towards compatriot Andy Ruiz, a former world champion, with that winner poised for an opportunity on the WBC title.
However Wilder didn’t rule out making an attempt to combat Ukraine’s unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk, who owns all of the heavyweight division’s different main titles.
“Who’s subsequent? I’m down for no matter,” Wilder mentioned. “Andy Ruiz, Usyk or no matter. I’m again. The thrill is again within the heavyweight division.”
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