The Bronze Bomber returns on Saturday night in a comeback fight against Finland’s Robert Helenius. This is Deontay Wilder’s first fight following his back-to-back stoppage losses to Tyson Fury. We’ve previewed the fight for you and given you our suggested bets for the occasion.
Wilder vs Helenius Tips
What a mess the Heavyweight scene is in right now. After the delights of Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk (twice) and Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder (thrice), we were first tempted with the prospect of Fury vs Usyk, then Fury vs AJ. We now look like we’re going to end up with Fury vs Chisora (again!), Joshua vs Chris Arreola and Wilder vs Helenius. Shambles! Anyway, onto the actual fight…
Where and when is the fight taking place?
The fight will be held at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn in the early hours of Sunday 16th October. No UK TV broadcaster is showing the card, so fight fans will have to subscribe via FITE.tv online if they want to watch. In the US its being shown live on Fox at a cost of $74.99! The card will start around 10pm with the main event ring-walk taking place around 4am… The card is a Premier Boxing Champions promotion with Al Haymon.
What does the fight card look like?
- MAIN EVENT: Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius
- Caleb Plant vs Anthony Dirrell
- Gary Antonio Russell vs Emmanuel Rodriguez
- Frank Sanchez vs Carlos Negron
- Vito Mielnicki Jr vs Limberth Ponce
- Gurgen Hovhannisyan vs Michael Polite Coffie
- Geovany Bruzon vs James Evans
- Michael Angeletti vs Jeremy Adorno
- Miguel Roman vs Jose Negrete
- Michel Rivera vs Jerry Perez
- Keeshawn Williams vs Julio Rosa
What’s been said?
Wilder:
“It’s been a long journey for me and as of today it continues.
I thought so many times about whether I should stay out of the business or come back.
I’m not sure how long my fight against Robert Helenius will be. This second reign is going to be about having fun.
I don’t have anything to prove, I’ve gained so much success, and everything I have done inside the ring has been set in stone with my statue in my hometown of Tuscaloosa.
So, at this point in time, whatever comes my way is a blessing. But you already know I don’t get paid for overtime, so we’re going for the knockout.”
Helenius:
“I’m a different fighter from Fury so he is going to prepare differently.
He made a good fight in the last fight against Fury. Of course they were really tough fights but I think he improved every fight.
I see him as a completely new fighter and I know that people can change between fights.
I don’t think that is going to be a big problem, he has a lot of experience. I think it’s going to be a really, really good fight.”
Total rounds completed – At least five @ Evens
I certainly don’t see this as big a mismatch as the bookies do. Wilder is 1/8 to win, with the big Fin out at 11/2. Now don’t get me wrong, I think the Bronze Bomber will win this but Helenius is a good comeback fight. He’s just come off the back of two impressive wins over the previously unbeaten Pole Adam Kownacki and has been in with fairly decent opposition before. He’s only been stopped twice and both times it was in the sixth round and later.
Wilder pre-Fury would have probably taken care of Helenius in the first four rounds but we don’t know how much that Fury trilogy took out of the big American and his confidence must have taken a beating as well as his body. I can see the former WBC Champ starting this one cagey and Helenius giving him some initial problems. Eventually Wilder will catch him and the fight will end. I just don’t think it will be in the first five rounds.
Wilder to win in rounds 7-9 @ 9/2
Doubling down on my previous pick, I’m going for Wilder to win in the mid to late rounds and like the 9/2 on offer to do so. Only three of Wilder’s last nine victories have come before round six and I think Helenius will be elusive and obdurate in the early rounds.
