Former WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and top-rated Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius previewed their WBC heavyweight title eliminator showdown during a virtual press conference Tuesday before they step into the ring on Saturday, October 15 topping a $74.99 pay-per-view from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Deontay Wilder: “I don’t feel any pressure. I’m soaking in my happiness and peace. This reign is about being happy. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. I’ve done an amazing job in my career, so now I want to do the things that make me happy. Whatever we gain, that’s a plus.”
Robert Helenius: “I like being the underdog. It wakes me up a little bit. I know that I have to concentrate fully and be the best version of myself. Of course, there’s still some pressure, but that’s what comes with being in such an important fight.
DEONTAY WILDER
“This is an exciting time. It’s special for the heavyweight division. I’m really looking forward to October 15 at Barclays Center. This is going to be an amazing fight. Even though we know each other well, make no mistake, when it’s time to turn it on, the fans are going to leave with another memorable moment.
“October 15 is the return of the king. I’m looking forward to returning to my second home. My second reign is going to be filled with joy and excitement for me and those who support me. I’m looking to put on great fights like I always have.
“Changing the way we train has definitely opened up my mind leading into this fight. Training the same way all the time can get boring. This camp has been more fun and more exciting. I made it my business to do pre-camp away from home, before coming back to Alabama for sparring. It’s definitely refreshed me in this business of boxing.
“Barclays Center holds something special in my heart. It’s a second home to me. My most electrifying knockouts and exciting memories have been there. It feels good to be able to go back and add more memories.
“Sparring someone and fighting when it actually counts are two different things. Sparring is more of a practice. If Robert feels that he’s going to be able to match my showmanship, then I have to take his word for it. It will bring more excitement to the fight.
“I’ve never faced Helenius when it counts, so who knows what he’s going to bring. Everyone knows that fighters train harder than ever before when they face me. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring that excitement on October 15.
“I don’t feel any pressure. I’m soaking in my happiness and peace. This reign is about being happy. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. I’ve done an amazing job in my career, so now I want to do the things that make me happy. Whatever we gain, that’s a plus.
“Seeing the statue made for me in Alabama is what brought me back. My accomplishments are set in stone. But being there and seeing the people supporting me made me feel like there’s more that I can do. I’m still young. I’ve got three more years left in this business. There’s still a lot more left for me to do.
“Me and (head trainer) Malik Scott clicked instantly when we met helping Tomasz Adamek prepare for a fight years ago. To be able to make him one of my head coaches was a no-brainer. It means so much to have people who you trust and who you know has your back. What’s understood doesn’t need to be explained.
“I can only speak on what I’ve been doing in training and in sparring. I would say I look amazing. I haven’t lost any steps. If anything I’ve improved, gone back to the fundamentals and added new aspects to my skillset. It’s really about applying some things that I used to not work on as much.
“My weight is not going to be what we worry about in this fight or fights in the future. We gained a lot of weight the last fight, but it was more about the expectations of seeing my body a certain way. Now I’m going back to what I’m used to and what’s comfortable for me.”
ROBERT HELENIUS
“I’m finally back in Brooklyn and it feels really good. I’ve had a great training camp and I’m ready for this fight. I’m doing everything in my power to be my best self on fight night.
“I’m very blessed to be in this position. I’ve been in this game for a long time. I was knocking guys out in 2011 before I had a severe injury that kept me out for a long time. Now is the first time that I really feel like I’m back.
“It took me a while to get back to normal training after the operation on my shoulder. I still have several more good years to give, so why not give it all?
“There’s a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for my fans back home, so I know that I have to bring it on October 15.
“I’ve had a long career and I know how I feel before fights. I feel more comfortable and more confident heading into this fight than I’ve felt in a long time. Beating Kownacki was key to me and I know that without those victories, I would not be here.
“Deontay and I know each other very well. When we sparred he was preparing for a tall guy like me, while I was training for a very different kind of fighter. But some things do still get stuck with you during training. However the fight is much different than sparring.
“It’s tough to say if I felt Deontay’s power in sparring because of the headgear and bigger gloves. I think it’s more about his speed. Some people punch with a lot of force, but I think his best attribute is the explosiveness.
“I like being the underdog. It wakes me up a little bit. I know that I have to concentrate fully and be the best version of myself. Of course, there’s still some pressure, but that’s what comes with being in such an important fight.
“We’ve been training for this fight for a very long time, so we’ve made some tactical changes over that time. I obviously can’t reveal it but we’re going to be ready for Deontay.
“Deontay is fast and unpredictable with his right hand. That’s his best skill. He disguises that right hand and when it’s coming.”
Exciting fight and one that Bobby Helenius will win convincingly over the shot American. FOTY candidate!
Would love to see Helenius absolutely destroy Bum Squad once and for all. He definitely has more than just a chance to do it also.
Helenius has limited head movement. Wilder’s hand speed will be allow him to make connections on Helenius’ head. Helenius does have the size and power to hurt Wilder, but Helenius struggles so badly in creativity in mixing up his offense to minimize predictability. Wilder better wrap his hands good, because I feel the level of hand injuries will higher in this fight. Wilder TKO.
Yeah, my thoughts as well. Helenius probably needs a quick KO or for the fight to drag out into a slog. Almost every other scenario favors Wilder. I’d probably make Helenius 7-1 of thereabouts. He’s got a punchers chance, but not a whole lot more than that.
This is honestly an exciting match up and there is no doubt gonna be some serious blows thrown and landed. It also gives Helenius a chance to prove his steel. He has been a highly regarded heavyweight for some time, but it sure seems like it’s now or never. I see Wilder winning but if Helenius ever had a shot at becoming great… this is it.
The shake up of the heavyweight titles has opened up the heavyweight division for some exciting fights. When Wilder and AJ were on top the match ups were crap. Nobody wanted to risk their spot so we were stuck knowing the winner in 90% of the matchup’s. Now Wilder and AJ are title free and some great matches are going to be made. Both are guilty of being picky with who the fought. Now they need to work their way up the ladder and everybody is talking to each other and willing to fight. I think this is a dangerous fight for Wilder and Im interested in seeing who the other top guys (AJ, Fury and Usyk) are going to face before they get to facing each other.
You can tell that Wilder is overthinking things. He needs to keep it simple in this paticular fight..This fight will go as follows:. The first 1:45 will be a awkward clinchfest.. Helenius will catch Wilder around the 2:10 mark. Wilder will react and drop him..He will finish things 2:10 of round 3. Wilder will look a tad shot, however.
Helenius in 2! So over seeing Wilders face and how many title shots does this cat need?
Yet you have no problem with Tyson Fury a guy who made offensive comments about women, gays, and the black lives matter moment .
Haha Black Lives Matter movement….. what a JOKE!!! Bunch of brainwashed liberal scumbags marching for people who don’t even care about their own race. Just turn on the news and you’ll see. They kill each other all day every day.
Good to see Wilder back at his normal weight. He looked the worst his last fight, Fury III, having put on so much weight. He just gassed out and lost speed, still had power, but lost that snap in his right hand.
I don’t see how Helenius can beat Wilder.
Both seem to have difficulty with stamina the longer the fight goes. Helenius’s best opportunity is perhaps in the rounds when he himself has the biggest troubles.
If Helenius manages to survive the first 7-8 rounds, he might be able to win by KO or TKO. On the other hand, I don’t see how it will happen when he himself is fatigued.
Helenius is rather easy to hit. I don´t know how Helenius will survive 7- 8 rounds. Rather quick KO or TKO victory for Wilder is my predition.
“…..topping a $74.99 pay-per-view….”
– Thank you, again, Amazon Fire Stick.
Easy win for Wilder. Helenius has no power. He at least throws straight punches but they are just arm punches. Wilder has nothing to fear in this one. I’d be surprised if it goes beyond 5 rds. Helenius has zero chance to win and he is getting KO’d early.
Reach, speed, and power of wilder takes it. I’m calling 4th rd KO.
That’s pretty good my call my call is Wilder TKO inside of six
wilder will not go the distance he might get knocked out again helenuis is strong and a hard puncher if wilder wins its a suprise or a gift for wilder
Helenius looks slow, prefect for slider to throw a wild right hand. good night.
The lights at the Barclay’s will be windmill powered on 15 October, let’s go Windmill Squad,
3 rounds at BEST..VICIOUS KAYO DURING PAY- PER- SPAR SESSION
Wilder in 1.