A card that didn’t have much utterings in combat sports world took place Saturday, October 15th. Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder vs. Robert “Nordic Nightmare” Helenius was held on PPV and was entertaining for the fans in-and-out of attendance. With 4 of the 7 fights (1 on the prelims) ending in TKO/KO, it was the return of the Bronze Bomber, the main-event, that everybody wanted to see.
Deontay Wilder, who was perceived to be bruised, battered and broken by Tyson Fury (physically & mentally) after their 3 fights, 1 decision win by Wilder and 2 KO/TKO stoppages over him by the current WBC heavyweight champ, “The Gypsy King”.
But there was something different this time around. Wilder wasn’t the usual Wilder we know leading up to fight week entertaining us in interviews and at the press conferences comedically and boastfully at times. He was cool, calm and collected. Stoic faced you could say.
This is unusual as he is always smiling and smack talking his opponent. But we can only speculate that coming off of these two knockout losses he was more focused to prove to the world, but most importantly himself that he is the best heavyweight in the world for a reason.
Wilder from getting his has wrapped before the fight did not look into the camera once but to flick his tongue to it for some fun, but again, went back to being stoic.
Round 1 started at a nice feeling out pace for the two. Both were focused on landing jabs and straights to the body occasionally throwing a cross to the head but missing.
Wilder, when they did come close looked to throw and partially land a left hook that did not really get a reaction out of Helenius and quickly illegally shoved him into the ropes where the ref gave him a verbal warning.
Wilder being different all fight week in his approach, was the same calculated approach in his fight. It seemed that as the round grew late, Helenius started to pressure Wilder as he stayed calm, picking his shots to the body and using his footwork to move arond, something he never really did in the past.
But, Helenius grew too impatient and was caught by a short right hand coming in and was knocked out on the canvas.
Wilder currently is 43-2-1 has with 42 knockouts and is neck-and-neck with Fury for the best heavyweight in the world.
Post-fight Wilder called for a 4th fight with Fury.
