Fresh off the announcement of his comeback fight against Robert Helenius, Deontay Wilder spoke at length about his career on The PBC Podcast.
During the interview, which spanned topics including Wilder’s foray into music and the unveiling of his statue in Alabama, the former WBC Heavyweight Champion confirmed that the team from the third Tyson Fury fight would remain in his corner for this comeback.
He went on to discuss the upcoming fight. Contrary to what we’re used to, it seems that there’s no bad blood between him and his opponent. Helenius is coming off two KO victories over Polish heavyweight Adam Kownacki and has previously been a sparring partner of Wilder’s. This, the former WBC Heavyweight Champion says, makes for an intriguing matchup.
“I think he’s a great fighter. He’s very long and he can be patient at times – and he’s got a heart of gold. You know, he’s not going to give up, he got a military background.
We know each other in the ring and we know what we’re both capable of. I’m going to have to come out with something different – something he’s never seen.
He’s on a winning streak right now and he’s got to feel confident in himself about that.”
Moving onto the state of boxing in general, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ had some choice words for the promoters in the game.
“There’s so many people that look for their interest other than the fighter’s interest.
At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, the fighters are the products. They’re the ones who should deciding [things] because they’re risking their lives.
Just because you’ve got the money, you’re promoting, that makes it right? When your ass can be 105 years old and still making millions while this broke fighter that has risked his life for years and years don’t have nothing to show for it – can’t even pay their medical bills.
It’s so backwards.”
So, what is his motivation to step back inside the ropes?
“I wanted to see what my children thought of it – how they felt. It’s very important to me how they feel and what they think.
They all want to see Daddy come back. They said want to see more action from Daddy, the greatest fighter in the world.Ӥ
Wilder faces Robert Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, airing live on Fox PPV.