ANTHONY YARDE reckons that Deontay Wilder’s terrifying calls for a “body on his record” have come back to haunt him.
Light-heavy banger Yarde, 34, has been a super-fan of the Bronze Bomber since he was a boy.
Deontay Wilder brutally knocked out Robert Helenius in 2022Credit: AFP
Wilder was in tears after the fight
Derek Chisora and Wilder facing offCredit: Getty
Another fighter he admired growing up was Derek Chisora, 42, and his two idols
Yarde gave an emotional take on why 40-year-old Wilder’s form has hit the skids — because he feared he had done lasting damage to his former sparring partner Robert Helenius in 2022.
He said: “Since he hurt somebody — the same way it happened to Chris Eubank Sr after the Michael Watson fight — he has not been the same since.
“They are genuine people, they don’t really want to hurt anyone.”
Two years after he viciously knocked out Artur Szpilka in 2016, American Wilder shockingly claimed on a radio show: “I want a body on my record.
“I want one. I want one, I really do. That’s the Bronze Bomber, he wants one.
“I always tell people, when I’m in the ring, like I’m the Bronze Bomber. Everything about me changes.
“I don’t get nervous, I don’t get butterflies, I don’t have no feelings towards the man I’m gonna fight.
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It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov while Oleksandr Usyk takes on the king of kickboxing Rico Verhoeven.
features for the first time since making the switch to Zuffa Boxing and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
April
- Sat 4 – Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora – DAZN PPV
- Sun 5 – Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper – Sky Sports
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
- Sat 11 – Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis – Netflix
- Sat 18 – Callum Smith vs David Morrell – DAZN
- Sat 18 – Manny Pacquiao vs Ruslan Provodnikov
- Sat 25 – Lawrence Okolie vs Tony Yoka – DAZN
May
- Sat 2 – Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani – Undisputed super-bantamweight title – TBC
- Sat 2 – Zurdo Ramirez vs David Benavidez – WBA & WBO Cruiserweight titles – Prime Video
- Sat 9 – Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois – WBO title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 16 – Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN
- Sat 23 – Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven – WBC title – DAZN
June
- Sat 6 – Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello – WBC super lightweight title – DAZN
- Sat 13 – Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall – DAZN
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Chisora vs Wilder - all the info
DEREK CHISORA and Deontay Wilder are set to go head-to-head in a blockbuster heavyweight bout this Saturday.
Both of the legends will step into the ring for the 50th fight of their professional careers, with Del Boy ready to hang up his gloves after reaching the half-century mark.
previously stated he would retire after his 50th fight, and a huge home clash against one of boxing’s most dangerous punchers is a fitting farewell.
The 42-year-old Londoner heads into the home bout on a three-fight winning streak, including standout victories over and Otto Wallin.
Meanwhile, has failed to look at his explosive best since back-to-back defeats to .
Since then, the Bronze Bomber has secured two underwhelming wins against lower-ranked opponents and suffered further losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
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“I thought I had one that time with Szpilka because he wasn’t breathing when he hit the canvas.
“Somebody’s got to go. I want that on my record because when I’m in that state of mind, I ain’t myself.”
On the back of two KO losses to , the Alabama giant was given a comeback clash with Helenius.
And he left the Finn flat out on the canvas in the
And Yarde, a student of and the harsh heavyweight game, believes that is why Wilder has since lost two of his last three — and is fighting Del Boy this weekend to save his career.
Yarde — starring alongside Bryant Jennings and David Haye on SunSport’s No Glove Lost show — said: “Wilder had a fight with Helenius and he’s never been the same.
“He knocked Helenius out, but he still had his eyes open. At the press conference afterwards Wilder cried because he said he thought he had really hurt him and talked about Helenius having kids.
“Everyone gives off this persona of being the baddest man.
“But since Wilder thought he had seriously hurt Helenius I don’t think he has been the same. That ‘catching a body thing’ is not real.”
Wilder has suffered mental health problems since those iconic Las Vegas Fury clashes and been beaten by Zhilei Zhang, 42, and Joseph Parker, 34.
In 2024, the former WBC king saw his romantic relationship with TV personality and former fiancee Telli Swift collapse very publicly.
Yarde believes the enormity of this fight — with each man stepping through the ropes for the 50th time as a pro — will put on hold any personal anguish Wilder is suffering.
He added: “The only stuff that matters will show on the night.
“Wilder might have personal issues and a lack of confidence in his power and we might see a similar performance to the ones against Zhang and Parker. Or we might see Wilder back. It’s one or the other.
“If the old Wilder is back, Chisora is in for a hell of a fight. But he’s the best person to be ready for it.”
David Haye, Anthony Yarde and Bryant Jennings on SunSport’s No Glove Lost panelCredit: sunsport 
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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