Deontay Wilder: Did Robert Helenius take a dive? New footage is telling

Deontay Wilder made an explosive return to the ring with a scintillating first-round knockout victory over Robert Helenius on Saturday night.

It was the former WBC heavyweight champion’s first victory for almost three years following his two defeats to Tyson Fury. No opponent other than Fury, who has two wins and a draw from their trilogy, has had an answer to the Bronze Bomber since he turned professional, with the sheer power he generates in his punches making him a knockout specialist.

Wilder only landed three punches when despatching Helenius and the American now has his sights set on WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk.

As always, however, there are those on social media who delight in attempting to undermine top sports performers, often through rumour and conspiracy theories.

One of these theories doing the rounds in the aftermath of the bout was the suggestion that Helenius, a former sparring partner of Wilder, took a dive in order to help get the Bronze Bomber up and running on his comeback trail.

Those backing this theory were making claims that the KO punch had little or no leverage, a fairly flimsy argument which has been made to look even weaker with the release of a video with the sound turned up.

For all the folk saying Helenius took a “dive” against Deontay WilderSound UP