Deontay Wilder is again within the win column. After dropping back-to-back fights and 4 of 5, the previous WBC heavyweight champion returned to the ring in Wichita, Kansas to cease Tyrrell Herndon within the seventh spherical on Friday.
Wilder was far more aggressive within the opening spherical than he was in opposition to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, pushing ahead behind the jab. Herndon did little past circling away and seeking to keep away from contact, which he did nicely, avoiding most of Wilder’s hearth.
Wilder continued to strain within the second spherical and scored his first knockdown with a cuffing left hook that caught Herndon off steadiness and despatched him stumbling to the canvas. Not significantly damage by the shot, Herndon survived the spherical.
Because the rounds ticked by, Herndon tried to seek out small spots to unload large punches, and when he threw, Wilder did look a bit uncomfortable. However the greater story was that Wilder, even exhibiting extra aggression than his latest fights, was not hurting Herndon along with his assault.
That modified in Spherical 6, when Wilder amped up the assault much more, mauling Herndon alongside the perimeter and throwing heavy pictures till the referee stepped in as Herndon was held up by the ropes. Regardless of the second knockdown of the battle, Herndon once more managed to outlive the spherical and proceed onward.
In Spherical 7, Wilder continued to attempt to push for the end when he landed a straight proper hand that barely stumbled Herndon and the referee jumped in to halt the battle. The stoppage was questionable at finest but it surely appeared unlikely Herndon had any path to victory within the battle on the level the referee stepped in.
The official time of the stoppage was 2:16 of Spherical 7.
“It felt nice. Because of my opponent, man, you are a tricky man,” Wilder stated after the battle. “I recognize the work. … I had rather a lot, I used to be laid up a very long time getting myself again collectively, and it has been a protracted street for me. I am simply glad to be again within the ring, . This can be a new starting for me.”
Forward of the battle, Wilder promoter Nelson Lopez Jr. claimed this was the primary battle of a three-fight plan earlier than trying to land a battle with two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Wilder’s efficiency would not appear to maneuver him nearer to that purpose. Beforehand in his profession, Herndon was stopped by Efe Ajagba in a single spherical in Ajagba’s professional debut, misplaced by disqualification to Brandon Glanton and was additionally stopped in two rounds by Richard Torrez Jr. He was additionally stopped within the first spherical by Corey Barlow, who holds a 3-7-2 file.
That Wilder, even exhibiting elevated aggression, was unable to copy these outcomes regardless of being one of many heaviest punchers in boxing historical past might trigger continued concern for the way forward for his profession.