Via Brian Webber: Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) had mixed feelings about stopping old friend and pairing partner Robert Helenius (31-4, 20 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night in their heading session at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Wilder landed his right arm short on the first round rendering Helenius 6’6″ unconscious. He was literally cold from the moment that punch hit the ground, and there was no way for him to know what had happened to him. as he limped down onto the canvas.
While Wilder was happy to get the win, which was his first in three years since 2019, he didn’t like seeing Helenius pass out on canvas in the first round with seemingly empty eyes. like staring at the ceiling.
For Wilder, it was not a pleasant moment to see Helenius in that state. He said he wants to test Helenius next month to make sure he’s fine from the knockout round.
Of course, we probably won’t know if Helenius is really okay until he fights back. If Helenius loses by knockout in a gimme fight, then you have to suspect that he is still feeling the effects of the knockout against Wilder.
Being eliminated the way he happened tonight is not good for one’s career, and we can only hope he can come back after this.
“Like I said, Robert is a friend of mine. We love Robert,” Deontay Wilder said to Fighthype after knocking out Robert Helenius in the first round last Saturday night.
“Seeing a friend of mine on the ground like that and not understanding what was going on was heartbreaking. I don’t want to analyze who is the right knockout right now because my heart is hurting right now. I want to make sure he’s okay.
“I want to make sure he’s okay. Not just for today. We have to wait. I want to see what happens after a month. Then I can go back and look at certain things, and pick and choose. Right now, I’m not focused on that.
“Those Grant gloves are great. I’ve always heard about the hand-saving Grant gloves. I’ve broken my arm time and time again,” Wilder said.
