Deontay Wilder Weighs In Nearly 40 Pounds Lighter Than Robert Helenius
Deontay Wilder said he’s back at his “happy” weight.
Wilder came in nearly 40 pounds lighter than Robert Helenius at Friday morning’s weigh-in. Wilder weighed in at 214.5 pounds, which is significantly lighter than his previous two weights against Tyson Fury, which were 231 and 238.
“I just wanted to come in at a happy weight, and that’s what I came in at,” he said.
“I’ve always been a smaller heavyweight than a lot of guys, but my power has made up for it. That’s why I’ve been able to stay at the top of the class in the heavyweight division.
“I just wanted to be mobile, hostile, and agile, where I’m comfortable, where I’m happier. This weight is where I’m happy, and I can get everything I need to see the greatness out of me.”
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The “Bronze Bomber” hasn’t been under 230 pounds since facing Luis Ortiz in 2019 where he was 219.5 pounds — which was also his last win — and then, in his first fight against Fury in 2018, Wilder was 212.5 pounds.
Helenius is also different than his normal weights. This is the heaviest that the “Nordic Nightmare” has weighed since 2016 where he came in at 254 pounds against Johann Duhaupas, which he lost by knockout.
In Helenius’ last two bouts, he was 238 3/4 and 246 pounds against Adam Kownacki — both of those being stoppage wins.
“What can I say? The waiting is over, I’m ready to fight,” Helenius said. “Victory or Valhalla!”
The co-main event is also set.
Plant weighed in at 167 1/4 pounds while Dirrell came in at 167 3/4 pounds — both just under the 168-pound super middleweight limit.
Despite anticipating it, there was no physical altercation. Plant lightly nudged Dirrell to the side while they were flexing for photos — though Dirrell did purposely step in front of Plant, avoiding the traditional face-off.
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“He got hurt in camp, I heard that, by a 160 lber,” Dirrell told Ray Flores. “The talking is over, man, it’s time to work.”
“I don’t care nothing about the talking,” Plant said. “The whole fight, the whole lead-up, he’s been real emotional. He’s weak emotionally, he’s weak mentally. We’re not here to stand on emotion. Nothing he does or says can take me out of my zone. It’s gonna feel good when I get my hand raised tomorrow. I’m going to handle him in fashion.”