One of the most popular modern heavyweights Deontay Wilder has spent his whole training camp at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and held a media workout on Thursday, September 22nd, ahead of his pay-per-view against Robert Helenius, which will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on October 15th
Wilder who is coming off back-to-back knockout losses to Deontay Wilder will be looking to make a statement as both Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk have brought his name up as a possible future opponent.
“I always want a good matchup. Robert (Helenius) has been on a winning streak and he’s here. I’ve been hearing he’s supposed to be the mandatory for (Oleksandr) Usyk and however that’s laid out, but I know he’s coming with his A+++ game. They always do when they fight me,” said Wilder. “With Robert, I think he’s gotten even more confident because he’s been sparring with me for many, many years. So we kind of know each other. At this point in camp, we’re trying to do some things that he’s never seen before. And I’m sure he’s trying to do some things that I’ve never seen before. And the one thing I like about Robert is that he has a warrior’s heart, just like me.”
Malik Scott, Wilder’s trainer, gave an honest take on Robert Helenius.
“Yes, Deontay has sparred Helenius. I was there, and I saw how well Deontay did with him, but Helenius is not a good spar. He doesn’t spar very well. Anybody could have an Okay day with him. He’s very technically sound and he knows how to protect himself, but he’s not a good spar. He’s a good fighter when the lights are on, when it’s time to throw a monkey wrench into the apple cart and to upset people, this is when he comes alive. And this makes him more dangerous in this fight because if anyone is going to train as hard as they ever trained and be more alert than they’ve ever been is when they’re fighting Deontay Wilder. He brings the best out of his opponents,” said Malik Scott. ““We’ve put in over 500 rounds on the pads and 500 rounds just with intent shadow boxing. What I’m impressed with the most by Deontay, whatever it takes to make himself a complete fighter, he’s willing to try. He’s willing to put a gallant effort into that, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
As for the man who holds the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles being ringside for the fight, that is something that makes Wilder happy.
“It’s music to my ears. I hold Usyk to be a very honorable person and a man of his word. So I’m looking forward to that. I’m not looking past Robert by any means. It’s good to know that Usyk will be in the arena. Welcome to a great show. And to all the fans, welcome to a great show for whoever is watching and attending, but I’m not looking past Robert,” said Wilder. “For Usyk to be able to bless me with a title shot when I’ve blessed so many during my reign, it’s a great feeling. So we’re going to get past October 15, and then after that, we can see what happens. I’ve got a lot of things lined up, a lot of options in the works for me... But when it’s dealing with a title shot you’ve got to jump on it when the opportunity presents itself.”
“I gave it my all,” Stevenson stated to his fans and the general public in a tweet via Twitter. “I’ve been a professional my whole career and made weight, but my body just can’t make 130 anymore. My health has to come first. I’m moving up to 135 in my next fight.”
