Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will be making his return to boxing this October. He will take on Robert Helenius almost a year after his iconic trilogy fight against Tyson Fury back in 2021.

The Bronze Bomber’s return was initially in doubt after he claimed that he was contemplating retirement. Wilder has now come out and revealed what fueled his return to the sport. In an interview with 78SPORTSTV, he stated that the statue made in his honor was what motivated him to come back.

“What really gave me that is to come back through 78. When they bless the kid with that statue man legit. All my accomplishments are set in stone within the statue now. You look you’re talking to a walking living legend I have nothing to prove now,” said Wilder.

He also claimed that there weren’t too many people with a statue in their honor.

“Ain’t too many people that can say they have a statue you know and uh and it’s legit man and um to see so many people all over the world come to my hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That was amazing, you know. Sometimes my people travel from different countries,” he added.

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Wilder certainly feels the love and admiration he received from his hometown and fans across the world, which was enough to make him strap his boots again. He will now be put to test against the veteran Finnish boxer Helenius.

The story behind the statue honoring Deontay Wilder

Wilder was honored with a life-size statue of him in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in May. The statue is located outside the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports building on Jack Warner Parkway and was created by local artist Caleb O’Connor. The artist revealed he spent almost 12-15 hours a day for two and a half months to make the statue.

He priced it at $30,000 and also claimed that it was chosen as a finalist for the International Portrait Competition and Exhibition in Atlanta. He added that the statue was sent to Chicago for display, and was bronzed in Italy. The statue is a remarkable display that perfectly portrayed the iconic achievements of Wilder.

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