Wilder Victorious, Declares It a Fresh Start

WICHITA: Deontay Wilder, a former heavyweight champion, made a triumphant return to boxing, securing a technical knockout against Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round on Friday night.

In his first fight after suffering a significant defeat to Zhilei Zhang last December, Wilder displayed glimpses of his renowned power. However, he adopted a more controlled strategy during this understated comeback match.

The 39-year-old fighter knocked Herndon down with a swift counter left hook in the second round and once more in the sixth. He concluded the bout in the seventh with two powerful right-hand punches.

The referee stopped the fight while Herndon was still standing, marking Wilder’s first victory since October 2022.

Wilder expressed his satisfaction at being back and characterized the win as a chance to begin again. “Being away for an extended period, I dedicated time to personal recovery and emotional healing. Returning to the ring feels great. This represents a new chapter for me,” he stated.

The match occurred at Charles Koch Arena before a relatively small audience and lacked significant broadcast coverage—a stark contrast to Wilder’s previous high-profile pay-per-view encounters with Tyson Fury.

Herndon, who was previously stopped in two rounds by rising contender Richard Torrez Jr. the previous year, was not anticipated to present a substantial challenge to Wilder.

Although the victory was commanding and collected, it lacked the explosive brilliance that once defined ‘the bronze bomber.’

Following his victory, Wilder voiced his ambition to develop into a more multifaceted boxer. “I aimed to exhibit more skills—taking the necessary time to set up strikes and evolve beyond solely relying on my right hand. My goal is to become a well-rounded, complete fighter,” Wilder concluded.