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Deontay Wilder will step into the boxing ring for the first time in more than a year Saturday, squaring off against Robert Helenius at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
It's been a long journey back for Wilder, who considered retiring from the sport following a second straight loss to Tyson Fury in October 2021.
Wilder is listed as a -800 favorite against Helenius at BetOnline.ag, but for those looking at the underdog it's worth noting that Wilder has been working through some setbacks during preparation.
To aid his injuries, Wilder turned to the same cryotherapy facility athletes such as Jake Paul, Tyler Herro, Ben Simmons and Oscar De La Hoya have used for treatment. Of course, Kobe Bryant was the first major athlete to put cryo treatment on the map a dozen years ago.
"While working his way into fight form, Deontay came to us with some recurring back issues," Vatche Ourishian, Muscle Lab Performance Director, said. "We've been running through the gamut of therapy to get him ready for Saturday."
Earlier this week, Wilder underwent cryotherapy, stretch therapy, cupping therapy and massage treatments by Ourishian.
"My body is just about in peak position now, but there were a few areas I needed to tune up at the last minute," Wilder said. "Cryo, cupping and everything Vatche put my body through this week has helped me get where I need to be going into Saturday."
Helenius, who is a +500 (5/1) underdog against Wilder, said in an exclusive interview published by BetOnline's “Fight Guys” YouTube channel that he is battling some jet lag, but otherwise is completely healthy for the bout.
Wilder and Helenius have sparred before in training camps, and the latter said he's ready to show the world he can be a heavyweight champ, even at 38 years of age.
"I don't blame people for doubting me after the Washington fight, but like I've said many times, I wasn't fully there in that fight. This time I'm going to be there and I'm going to prove that I have what it takes to be world champ," Helenius told BetOnline. "[Wilder's] a really tough, hard fighter who I respect so I need to do everything in my power to win this fight."
