Could Deontay Wilder Become World Champion Again?

ByIan Shutts
Wilder

Deontay Wilder has been one of the most successful heavyweight boxers of his generation. He held the WBC title between 2015 and 2020, defending his crown on 10 occasions before losing to Tyson Fury.

Now at the age of 36, Wilder is hoping to get another shot at a world title. He has not been in the ring since losing to the Gypsy King for the second time in October 2021. The American was stopped in the 11th round of that fight.

For those who bet on boxing, the match on this weekend will be something to look out for. Wilder will be keeping a close eye on the outcome of the upcoming world title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua. Joshua v Usyk 2 odds is currently priced at -200 as the favorite, in the outright odds. If the Ukrainian does go on to prevail, Wilder will be hoping to get a shot at the WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO Champion in the near future.

The Bronze Bomber remains highly ranked by all four major organizations in boxing. His record of 42-1-2 is one of the best by any boxer in the sport today. 

WBC Belt Could Become Vacant

Wilder’s other route to a world title shot is with the WBC. Fury has announced he has retired from boxing, although he has yet to vacate his title. If the unbeaten boxer does indeed walk away, the WBC could announce a fight for the belt.

Given he is ranked number one on the WBC’s list, Wilder would be the most likely to be in that vacant title fight. He is likely to face the winner of the Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker fight. Those two men are second and third respectively in the organization’s standings.

Andy Ruiz Jr and Luiz Ortiz are two other men who would in contention to face Wilder. Ruiz Jr is a former world champion after beating Joshua in 2019. The American will take on the Cuban in September and he is odds-on in the betting to prevail.

Wilder set To Face Helenius in Comeback Fight

Wilder has confirmed he will return to the ring on October 15th where he will face Robert Helenius in New York. The Finnish boxer is very experienced in the heavyweight division as this will be the 42nd fight of his professional career.

Helenius has a 31-3 record since turning pro. He lost to Gerald Washington in 2019, but since then he has been successful in his last three fights in the ring. He defeated Mateus Robert Osorio and then he recorded two wins over Adam Kownacki, courtesy of fourth and sixth-round stoppages.

The former European Heavyweight Champion has yet to challenge for a full world title but a victory over Wilder could help put him in line for a shot at one of the four belts in the future. It would also rank as one of the biggest upsets in the division in recent years.

Wilder claims that an unveiling of a statue of him in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama has given him the motivation to reach the top of the sport again. If he does win a world title for the second time in his career, it will be an impressive comeback from his crushing loss to Fury.

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