Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius

Saturday night on the Barclays Heart in Brooklyn sees the return of former WBC heavyweight world champion, Deontay Wilder in his first look of 2022, and he goes straight into an eliminator for his previous title towards the tried and examined Robert Helenius.

FITE TV pay-per-view is the place to see Wilder vs Helenius within the UK, while FOX Sports activities pay-per-view will broadcast the struggle within the USA.

Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) could have particular query marks hanging over him after a pair of gruelling inside schedule losses to Tyson Fury in his final two outings.

The Alabama man grew to become WBC champion in 2015 when he went the twelve spherical distance for the primary and solely time in his profession in a large win towards Bermane Stiverne, and made seven profitable defences earlier than assembly Fury of their first conflict.

‘The Gypsy King’ gave the impression to be coasting to victory, solely to be dropped twice, as soon as closely, and the struggle was declared a draw.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ defended his belt one other two occasions earlier than encountering Fury as soon as extra, however this time the Brit made no mistake, hammering the 36-year-old in a seventh spherical stoppage.

After authorized wrangles on a trilogy assembly, the third struggle befell final October, and it was a wild affair. Wilder was down 3 times, and dropped Fury twice earlier than being knocked out in eleven.

Finland’s Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) seems like a secure return struggle and the pair have historical past, with Wilder calling him into camp for his preparation for his third struggle with the aforementioned Fury.

The Finn is a perennial gatekeeper, and has not but challenged for world honours, however has frequently figured on this planet rankings.

The 38-year-old has been stopped by Dillian Whyte and Gerald Washington, however is coming off a pair of eye-catching wins.

’The Nordic Nightmare’ met the a lot hyped Adam Kownacki in March 2020, and ruined the Pole’s unbeaten report in a fourth spherical win, and backed that up in a rematch, halting him in spherical six final October.

Prediction: Wilder will look to make a press release return right here, and Helenius needs to be a really perfect opponent to just do that towards. I think about he’ll go for broke early, with loads of wild lefts and rights, and he can take away Helenius from battle inside 4 rounds.

Plant battles Dirrell

Caleb Plant additionally returns from world title defeat, and he takes on former two-time WBC world champion, Anthony Dirrell over twelve rounds at tremendous middleweight in a bout which serves as a WBC eliminator.

Plant (21-1, 12 KOs) misplaced his IBF belt final November, stopped in eleven when difficult for the undisputed crown towards Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, however he did acquit himself nicely.

Dirrell (34-2-2, 25 KOs) has patchy current kind, and is 1-1-1 in his final three outings. He was stopped in 9 by David Benavidez in September 2019, earlier than being held to a draw by Kyrone Davis 5 months later.

The 37-year-old is coming off a win, stopping Marcos Hernandez in 4 on the undercard of Plant’s defeat to Canelo.

Prediction: Plant ought to take this one on the playing cards.

Russell & Rodriguez run it again

The final scheduled twelve rounder comes at bantamweight, and Gary Antonio Russell faces off towards former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez in a rematch.

The pair met in August final 12 months, however the struggle was curtailed inside a spherical and declared a no contest with Rodriguez (20-2, 13 KOs) unable to proceed as a consequence of an unintended headbutt.

Prediction: The Puerto Rican has misplaced two of his final three, and Russell (19-0, 12 KOs) can take a factors win.

Remaining Undercard

Thrilling trying heavyweight Frank Sanchez (20-0, 13 KOs) can be in motion, and the Cuban can defend his WBC Continental Americas title, and cease Carlos Negron (25-3, 20 KOs) inside their ten spherical distance.

Within the different ten rounder Vito Mielnicki Jr (12-1, 8 KOs) may have the gap to see off Limberth Ponce (19-5, 11 KOs) at tremendous welterweight.

In eight spherical motion, there needs to be an early win for Michel Rivera (23-0, 14 KOs) towards Jerry Perez (14-1, KO11) at light-weight.

Gurgen Hovhannisyan (3-0, 3 KOs) ought to rating one other early win at heavyweight towards Michael Well mannered Coffie (13-2, 10 KOs).

In six rounders, heavyweight Geovany Bruzon (7-1, 6 KOs) can overcome the unbeaten James Evans (4-0-1, 4 KOs) inside schedule, and at tremendous bantamweight, Michael Angeletti (6-0, 5 KOs) can take the battle of the unbeatens towards Jeremy Adorno (7-0, 3 KOs).

At tremendous light-weight, Keeshawn Williams (9-1-1, 2 KOs) may have the playing cards to take the win towards Julio Rosa (5-1, 2 KOs).

The only real 4 rounder is at tremendous bantamweight, and Miguel Roman (2-0) can outscore Jose Negrete (2-0, 2 KOs).