Wilder likely to face Helenius on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View on October 15

Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder is back.

The former heavyweight champion will likely face Robert Helenius on October 15 in a FOX Sports Pay-Per-View main event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in what would mark Wilder's first bout in more than a year, FightNights.com has learned. However, a deal for the fight has yet to be finalized. The 36-year-old Wilder has not fought since suffering an 11th-round knockout loss to Tyson Fury in their trilogy bout last October 9 in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-7 Wilder, who will turn 37 on October 22, was recently seen on social media training at his gym in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with former super middleweight world champion Badou Jack.

Wilder flirted with retirement following his second loss to Fury, telling comedian Kevin Hart eight months that ago that he had "accomplished my goals in the sport," but it appears he has recommitted himself to the sweet science.

Wilder dropped Fury twice in their third bout, both coming in the fourth round. However, Wilder found himself on the canvas three times, once each in the third, 10th, and 11th rounds en route to a brutal knockout defeat. In their February 2020 rematch, Fury dominated Wilder and won via seventh-round technical knockout. They first boxed in December 2018 and fought to a controversial draw.

The 38-year-old Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) should serve as a solid test for Wilder. He has picked up three consecutive knockout wins, including two over former contender Adam Kownacki in back-to-back bouts. He, too, has not fought since last October 9, when Helenius halted Kownacki (20-3, 15 KOs) in six rounds on the Fury-Wilder III undercard.

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