Robert Helenius was taken straight to hospital after being brutally knocked out cold by Deontay Wilder last night.
The 'Bronze Bomber' returned to action when he took on former sparring partner and heavyweight contender Helenius at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Wilder had not fought since losing to Tyson Fury last year but showed his devastating punch power by closing the show in the opening round.
He landed a huge right hand which sent his opponent crashing to the canvas out cold, with the referee immediately leaping in to call a halt to the contest. Medical staff were quick to attend to Helenius, and his opponent Wilder also displayed concern having inflicted a brutal blow on his former sparring partner.
In an update following last night's events, Helenius posted an image of himself on Instagram from hospital having had a medical check up, with the caption: "A big thanks for all the love and support. I'm all good after a check up at the hospital. Stay humble in both victory or defeat."
Concerning images of Helenius emerged in the aftermath of the fight which showed the Finnish star motionless on the floor, which came having started well in the opening round. And the eventual winner Wilder has admitted he has concerns for his rival's health following the thundering impact of the KO.
"I always have concerns for all fighters," Wilder said when sending a message of support to Helenius at the post-fight press conference. "I'm a big advocate for fighters because, like I always say, this is not a sport. A sport is something you play. You don't play this. We risk our lives for your guys' entertainment and I speak that forever.
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"But when you have a relationship with a man, when you love a man, when you build a friendship with another man although he's a thousand miles away from where I am. When you see stuff like that man, you want to come to his aid. I wanted to come to his aid but they wouldn't let me. But my heart goes out to him and I hope he's OK and goes back to his family because this is a tough business that we're in."
Wilder's latest highlight-reel stoppage showed another display of his frightening power which has seen him drop the likes of Fury, Lu.is Ortiz and now Helenius. There will be several options on the table next for the American star who is eyeing a climb to once again become world champion.
And the 36-year-old left out long-term rival Anthony Joshua when naming a list of fighters he could look to face next. "I've been hearing rumours about [Oleksandr] Usyk but I see he's not here," Wilder continued. "Most of the times guys say they want me and they come to shows of mine, they see knockouts like that and they turn the corner. I'm ready for whoever, whether it's Andy Ruiz or Usyk, bring it on."
