Heavyweight boxing

TYSON FURY could be set to face Deontay Wilder for a FOURTH time as the WBC are set to order a final eliminator between The Bronze Bomber and Andy Ruiz Jr.Wilder, 36, returned to the ring on Saturday night, one year on from Fury KO’ing him in the 11th round of their trilogy bout.
Fury won two of the three fights with Wilder and drew the otherCredit: AP
Wilder dispatched Helenius inside one round on Saturday nightCredit: Getty
Ruiz wants to earn himself another world title shotCredit: EPA
And the concussive heavyweight made a statement with a stunning first-round knockout of Robert Helenius.
According to talkSPORT, a final eliminator for Fury’s WBC belt is now expected to be announced between Wilder and Ruiz Jr.
The winner will earn themselves a shot at The Gypsy King who is due to defend his belt for a third time in December – with Derek Chisora set to be the chosen opponent.
Wilder won the WBC title in January 2015 and defended the belt 10 times – including in a draw with Fury in December 2018.
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He then rematched the Brit in February 2020 and lost via seventh round stoppage.
After a lengthy legal battle, Wilder then secured a third shot at Fury in October last year.
And, while the Alabama fighter did drop Fury twice in the fourth round, he was eventually knocked out.
Meanwhile, Ruiz shocked the world back in June 2019 when he stopped Anthony Joshua in New York.
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Six months later, the Mexican-American rematched AJ in Saudi Arabia and lost by unanimous decision.
He then had 17 months out of the ring before returning with a victory over Chris Arreola in May 2021.
Ruiz was then inactive again for more than a year, before he beat Luis Ortiz last month. More

CHERNEKA Johnson defended her world title despite suffering a horror gash to her forehead.The Kiw-born brawler, 27, came up against five-time former world champion Australian Susie Ramadan, 43, in a tooth-and-nail fight at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Saturday.
Cherneka Johnson has successfully defended her world title despite a nasty cut above her eyeCredit: Getty
The Kiwi-born boxer defeated former five-time world champion Susie Ramadan via a unanimous points decisionCredit: Getty
Some viewers questioned how the referee allowed the fight to continueCredit: AFP
Cherneka dedicated the win to her brother Levi who was tragically murdered last monthCredit: @sugarneekz
The second round saw Ramadan threaten an upset after a clash of heads left an open wound above Cherneka’s right eye with some viewers insisting the fight be stopped.
Others praised Cherneka’s medics for being able to stem the flow of blood between rounds, allowing the champion to return to the ring.
She said: “I freaked out a bit in the first round with the cut and felt the blood in my eye but I just tried to stay calm.

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“I knew I could get through it if I stayed on my jab and didn’t get stuck in a brawl.”
Despite a constant stream of blood down her face and body, the champion was able to knock down her opponent showing no signs of injury.
The scores were 97-90, 96-92, 96-91, all for Johnson, meaning she was able to retain her IBF super bantamweight title via a unanimous points decision.
The win was dedicated to her brother Levi who was tragically stabbed to death last month.
Cherneka said: “I’m dedicating this to my brother and I’m so glad I got the job done – I know he’s here in my corner.”
Ramadan was visibly upset about the judge’s decision and the fight referee.
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She said in the ring post-fight: “It seemed like a set-up to be honest.”
Johnson made her professional boxing debut at 2016 and was beaten for the first and only time in 2021. More

DEONTAY WILDER announced his return to the heavyweight division in trademark fashion after brutally knocking out Robert Helenius. A right hand in round one left Helenius unconscious and out for the count, with Wilder back to winning ways.
Deontay Wilder knocks out Robert Helenius in the first roundCredit: Getty
The American has revealed he has just three more years left in his career and does not plan on wasting them.
Wilder, 36, finds himself in a position to challenge for the heavyweight title once more or against the division’s biggest stars.
So here, SunSport runs down what could be next for the Bronze Bomber.
Oleksandr Usyk
The Ukrainian called out Wilder after the news that Tyson Fury, 34, was in talks to fight Anthony Joshua, 33.
He even claimed he would gatecrash Wilder’s comeback party but alas Usyk, 35, never showed.
Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel and the man himself have opened the door to the fight.
And Usyk is a TV free agent, meaning he could sign a US contract to get the deal over the line.
Oleksandr Usyk called out Deontay WilderCredit: PA
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Andy Ruiz Jr
Wilder’s KO over Helenius, 38, was a WBC title eliminator bout, something Ruiz won in September against Luis Ortiz, 43.
The pair of Premier Boxing Champions stars are now set to meet in a final eliminator, where the winner is mandatory for Fury’s belt.
Both are signed to mysterious mogul Al Haymon, making a deal easier to negotiate than anything else on the market.
Wilder and Ruiz, 33, have given their blessing in the past, making this the most logical and likely fight next year.
Andy Ruiz Jr and Deontay Wilder are in line to fightCredit: Ryan Hafey
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Anthony Joshua
Wilder said a fight with long-time rival Joshua is the biggest in the world, ahead of a unification between Fury and Usyk.
But the problem, like has always been the case historically, is the rival promotional and TV ties getting in the way.
Although time is ticking for the heavyweight stars to finally settle their score and the time could be now.
Both AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn and Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel have previously left the door open to negotiations.
Anthony Joshua is linked with a super-fight against Deontay WilderCredit: Getty
Joe Joyce
Joyce, 37, is the current WBO “interim” champion and in line to challenge for Usyk’s belt.
But he faces a wait to get his shot with hopes of an undisputed title bout next year.
It has left many questioning if Joyce’s iron chin could prevail against Wilder’s famously heavy hands.
And Joyce’s promoter has a good relationship with Wilder’s team, dating back to the trilogy series with Fury.
Joe Joyce pictured with Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas
Dillian Whyte
Whyte, 34, was never granted a shot at Wilder’s WBC title, causing friction between the pair.
And with the two on the comeback trail, it could make for an intriguing fight with both at a crossroads in their career.
Whyte is not tied down to a promoter or network, meaning he is free to negotiate with Wilder.
But the Bronze Bomber may feel there is bigger fish to fry in the deep heavyweight waters.
Dillian Whyte is on the comeback trail after losing to Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters More

DEONTAY WILDER broke down in tears as he admitted he fears for Robert Helenius’ health following his brutal knockout win. A right hand from Wilder in the opening round of his boxing return in New York rendered Helenius unconscious.
Deontay Wilder breaking down in tears
Deontay Wilder gets emotional and cries at the post-fight presser after his KO of Robert Helenius as he discusses the dangers of boxing and Prichard Colon, who suffered a life-altering brain injury… [📽️ @PremierBoxing] pic.twitter.com/hEaK9LqSUU— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 16, 2022

The American, famed for his devastating power, let off subdued celebrations at the post-fight press conference.
And Wilder was reduced to tears as he went on to discuss American ex-boxer Prichard Colon, who suffered brain damage in the ring.
He said: “We’ve seen what happens, look at Colon. How he got hit, Richard Collon, correct.
“This man didn’t have no kids… they don’t understand. Y’all don’t f****** understand what we go through, man.
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“And I don’t even know him like that, but I will always be an advocate for us.
“Because this man will never know what it’s like to be somebody’s father.
“And that’s one of the most precious things in the world, to be somebody’s father. But he will never be nobody’s father, man.
“Because he got in the ring to support his family but now, his family got to take care of him for the rest of his life.
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“He was probably the bread winner in his family and now they’re looking and seeking for help and s*** like that.”
Colon, now 30, suffered life-changing injuries in the ring following defeat to Terrel Williams in 2015.
The former light-middleweight contender was left in a persistent vegetative state following repeated blows he took during the bout.
Wilder – who once claimed he wanted a “body on his record” – voiced concern for ex-sparring partner Helenius, 38, following his brutal KO.
He said: “I could say so much about it, man. That’s why you can’t play this, this is serious.
“We don’t know if Robert is going to be the same after this. I just did a job.
“I’m great at what I do but I don’t mean to take people away from the lifestyle they’re living. I’m just trying to support my family as well.”
Wilder returned to the ring for the first time in a year, since suffering a brutal KO loss of his own, to Tyson Fury, 34, in their gruelling trilogy bout.
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And he called out Oleksandr Usyk, 35, following his comeback win but expects to have a fight on his hands in convincing the Ukrainian to fight him.
He said: “I think it’s going to be very difficult. I’ll be very surprised if he sticks to his word.”
Boxer Prichard Colon was left with brain damage following an injury in the ring
Robert Helenius was knocked out in round oneCredit: EPA More

DEONTAY WILDER is ready to fight Oleksandr Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr next – so long as the heavyweight pair have not been scared off. Wilder dispatched of Robert Helenius in brutal fashion in New York after only one right hand and three minutes of his boxing return.
Deontay Wilder after knocking out Robert HeleniusCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk called out Deontay WilderCredit: PA
Usyk, 35, had called out the American beforehand and warned that he could gatecrash the massive comeback bout.
But the unified champion was a no-show, as Wilder questioned who on earth would want to fight him after leaving Helenius out cold.
He said: “Who’s next? I’ve been hearing rumours about Usyk and he isn’t even in the building, or is he?
“You know most the time when guys say they want me and come to a show of mine and see a devastating knockout that they turn the corner on me, I’ve had many.
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“I’m down for whatever, whether it’s Andy Ruiz, or Usyk or whoever. Lets bring it on.
“Deontay Wilder is back. The excitement in the heavyweight division is back. There’s no heavyweight division without Deontay Wilder.”
Wilder, 36, returned for the first time since Tyson Fury, 34, knocked him out in their epic trilogy bout last year.
And they could be in line for a sensational FOURTH chapter in their rivalry.
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It comes after Wilder beat Helenius, 38, in a WBC eliminator, which sets him up to face Ruiz, 33, for the mandatory challenger spot.
The two are both signed to Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions stable, making negotiations for the showdown that much easier.
Wilder was in attendance for Ruiz’s win over old rival Luis Ortiz, 43, in September, where the duo agreed to get it on.
Andy Ruiz Jr and Deontay Wilder are in line to fightCredit: Ryan Hafey More

DEONTAY WILDER announced his return to the heavyweight division in trademark fashion with a first-round knockout over Robert Helenius. The American, fighting for the first time since being KO’d by Tyson Fury 12 months ago, selected rugged Finn Helenius as his comeback opponent.
Deontay Wilder brutally knocked out Robert HeleniusCredit: Getty
The American announced his return in styleCredit: Getty
Robert Helenius out for the count in round oneCredit: AFP

But it took just under three minutes for Wilder to land his famous right and close the show without any warning.
Helenius, 38, had the ex-WBC champion backed up in the corner which ultimately sealed his fate as a counter shot left him laid out.

Wilder said: “It’s just amazing to be back in Brooklyn. It’s like a second home to me. This is arena is like a second home to me.
“It just feels so good to be back. When I came off the plane and set foot off the ground I just felt a great energy, I felt the love and support and that’s all I needed.
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“So when I stepped foot in the arena I felt the same thing and I knew it was going to be a great night and it was for me.”
Wilder, 36, was left considering his career following consecutive stoppage losses to Fury, 34, in their trilogy series.
But a statue built in his native Alabama convinced the Bronze Bomber back for one final chapter in his illustrious career.
He is now lined up for a final eliminator against Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, with the winner becoming mandatory for Fury’s title.
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But unified champ Oleksandr Usyk, 35, had called to fight Wilder after Anthony Joshua, 32, and Fury began negotiating for a shock December bout.
Usyk even warned that he could gatecrash Wilder’s big return – although the Ukrainian never showed.
And Wilder fears if the former cruiserweight king had taken a ringside seat, it just might have scared him off a future fight.
He said: “Who’s next? I’ve been hearing rumours about Usyk and he isn’t even in the building, or is he?
“You know most the time when guys say they want me and come to a show of mine and see a devastating knockout that they turn the corner on me, I’ve had many.
“I’m down for whatever, whether it’s Andy Ruiz, or Usyk or whoever. Lets bring it on.
“Deontay Wilder is back. The excitement in the heavyweight division is back. There’s no heavyweight division without Deontay Wilder.”
Deontay Wilder celebrates his comeback victoryCredit: Getty More