Deontay Wilder did Deontay Wilder stuff in his return to the ring, scoring a devastating first round knockout win over Robert Helenius at his favorite venue, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KO) keeps up his career run of knocking out everyone he’s ever faced except for Tyson Fury, and heaven knows he did his best to knock out Tyson Fury. Helenius (31-4, 20 KO) was a huge underdog, of course, and even the exact result and the way this happened probably doesn’t surprise anyone, but it’s still always pretty crazy to see Wilder’s power in action.
I mean, he didn’t even fully extend on the punch.
As for what could be next, the WBC have a plan in place to match Wilder with fellow PBC star Andy Ruiz Jr in a super ultra mega duper for sure eliminator, probably with some novelty belt they have made up also “on the line,” and Wilder has mentioned WBA/IBF/WBO titleholder Oleksandr Usyk, too, and Usyk has said he would want to fight Wilder.
Here’s what the pros had to say about Wilder’s return:
Wow that was the most powerful fastest short right hand ever. Congratulations @BronzeBomber
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) October 16, 2022
Got damn Wilder
— Ishé Oluwa Kamau Ali Smith (@IsheSugarShay) October 16, 2022
Honestly he beats everyone but Fury, Joshua better to stay the hell away from Wilder. Usyk hmmmmm man I dunno if you could take that shit
— Ishé Oluwa Kamau Ali Smith (@IsheSugarShay) October 16, 2022
Boom what a fucking shot
— Enzo Maccarinelli (@theRealEnzoMac) October 16, 2022