After a long and controversial trilogy against Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder took a deep breath. Though he no longer held his WBC heavyweight title, the Alabama native’s bank account was awash with generational wealth. Considering his financial success both in and out of the ring, Wilder thought long and hard before finally deciding to pursue his career.
As the now 36-year-old moves on, he will look to recapture that winning feeling on October 15, when he takes on Robert Helenius at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
In an effort to get back on track, Wilder locked himself in a grueling training camp, enduring countless rounds of combat. For Wilder, the hope is to eventually put Helenius in the seat of his pants. However, if the hard-hitting former champion falls short, he doesn’t think a loss will tarnish his name. Having defended his WBC title a total of ten times, tied with Muhammad Ali for fifth in heavyweight history, along with a reputation as a devastating puncher, Wilder believes he has cemented his position as one of the the best of all time. .
“Yes,” Wilder told BoxingScene.com when asked if he had done enough to make it to the Hall of Fame. “I’m a member of the Hall of Fame right now.”
Outside of his three meetings with Fury, Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) carefully herded all of his opponents to the mat and into the medical tent. However, Helenius has found the kind of form that he has been looking for for the last few years.
Adam Kownacki, a former top prospect who was on the verge of his own heavyweight title challenge, met his unexpected demise against Helenius on back-to-back occasions. With momentum coming directly from his side, the 38-year-old has shone with conviction, despite being considered a sizeable underdog.
Wilder, however, has unabashedly declared his ultimate goal…a second title reign. But even if the loquacious former champion doesn’t succeed this time, keeping him out of the Hall of Fame is virtually impossible in his mind.
“I know when those five years are up and I’m done competing, I’m automatically in the Boxing Hall of Fame, no questions asked. If not, I would be very surprised.”
