Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius – Results & Post-Fight Report

Deontay Wilder made a successful return to the ring, and roared straight back into the world heavyweight title picture, as he blasted out the usually durable Robert Helenius inside a round at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn.

Wilder (43-2-1, KO42) had contemplated retirement after losing his WBC title in a pair of brutal battles with Tyson Fury in 2020 and 2021, but he came back here and thrilled the crowd with another devastating display of power. Helenius (31-4, KO20) had only been stopped twice in over thirty contests prior to this one, and was coming off the back of two straight stoppage wins against Adam Kownacki.

After what was mostly a feeling out first round, Wilder exploded into life. Helenius was guilty of rushing in, and was met by a huge counter right hand that crumpled him on impact, and he lay horizontal on the canvas as the fight was called off.

There are now plenty of exciting options available to ‘The Bronze Bomber’, and he targeted Oleksandr Usyk, the unified world champion, as a future opponent.

Caleb Plant returns in style against Dirrell

On the undercard, Caleb Plant (22-1, KO13) also returned from defeat in his last fight, and he knocked out Anthony Dirrell (34-3-2, KO25) in the ninth of their super middleweight twelve rounder. Plant lost his IBF title in attempting to become undisputed champion against Saul Alvarez last November, but returned here in style to take a WBC title eliminator. It was another brutal knockout, as Plant first touched to the body, and then uncorked a that flattened Dirrell.

Rest of the Undercard

Gary Antonio Russell (19-1, KO12) tasted defeat for the first time, as Emmanuel Rodriguez (21-2, KO13) breathed new life into his career with a wide technical decision win. at bantamweight. This was a rematch, as their original meeting was cut short after a round due to a head clash, and although this one was curtailed in the final round due to a Rodriguez cut, the Puerto Rican had dominated, dropping Russell heavily in the eighth, and when the fight went to the cards, Rodriguez took the IBF and WBA eliminator by wide scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-93.

Frank Sanchez (21-0, KO14) remains a threat at heavyweight, and the Cuban defended his WBC Continental Americas title with a ninth round stoppage of Carlos Negron (25-4, KO20). Also at heavyweight, Gurgen Hovhannisyan (4-0, KO4) remained perfect, as he forced Michael Coffie (13-3, KO10) to retire after six rounds of their scheduled eight. The fourth and final heavyweight contest on the card drew a shock, as Geovany Bruzon (7-2, KO6) was stopped in three by James Evans (5-0-1, KO5).

Vito Mielnicki Jr (13-1, KO8) took a points win over ten against Limberth Ponce (19-6, KO11) (99-91×2, 98-92) to win the vacant WBA Continental Americas super welterweight title.

At lightweight, Michel Rivera (24-0, KO14) stayed unbeaten, dropping Jerry Perez (14-2, KO11) on the way to an eight round points win.

Michael Angeletti (7-0, KO6) scored a fifth round stoppage against Jeremy Adorno (7-1, KO3) at super bantamweight, and Miguel Roman (3-0, KO0) took a points win over four at the same weight against Jose Negrete (2-1, KO2).

Keeshawn Williams (10-1-1, KO2) took a wide points win over six against Julio Rosa (5-2, KO2) at welterweight.