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Deontay Wilder cried while discussing Prichard Colón and the devastating consequences of boxing in October 2022. During the same night, the former heavyweight champion said he had three years left in the sport. Almost four years later, Colón has passed away and Wilder is still fighting. Wilder’s emotional breakdown came after he knocked out Robert Helenius in devastating fashion at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The win took just 177 seconds. Rather than simply celebrating another highlight-reel knockout, Wilder immediately began thinking about what could happen to the man he had just rendered unconscious. “My heart goes out to him,” Wilder said of Helenius. “I hope he’s doing okay and he’ll be able to return to his family.” The former WBC heavyweight champion then questioned the way fighters are treated after damaging defeats. “People always go on about records and all this. They said, ‘Oh, he lost, oh, he’s a bum,’ and all that. “Well, you get your bum ass in there then.” Wilder became increasingly emotional as he considered the potential consequences of the knockout. “Yeah, it’s a great knockout. It’s devastating. But how much is that man going to suffer? “He’s alright now, but what about tomorrow? What about two weeks from now?” Then Wilder’s thoughts turned to Colón. Deontay Wilder Cries Over Prichard Colón Colón suffered catastrophic brain injuries following his October 2015 fight with Terrel Williams and required around-the-clock care from his family. “And we’ve seen what happened. Look at Colón,” Wilder said. “You don’t understand, man. Y’all don’t f***ing understand what we go through, man. And I don’t even know him like that. But I’ll always be an advocate for us because…” Wilder then broke down as he thought about the life Colón had lost. “This man will never know what it feels like to be somebody’s father. And that’s one of the most precious things in the world, to be somebody’s father. “But he’ll never be nobody’s father, man.” His thoughts then turned to Colón’s family. “He got in the ring to support his family, but now his family got to take care of him for the rest of his life. “He probably was the breadwinner of his family. And now they’re looking, seeking for help and s*** like that. “I can say so much about it. That’s why you can’t play this.” Colón died in August 2026 at the age of 33. Wilder’s Three-Year Promise Before his emotional discussion about Colón, Wilder had told fans that he intended to get out before he’s 40. That would have taken Wilder to 2025. The deadline has passed, but “The Bronze Bomber” remains an active heavyweight and continues to be linked with another huge opportunity. Wilder’s breakdown also highlighted just how deeply the Prichard Colón situation affected people throughout boxing. There were the fighters who still had to climb through the ropes knowing what could happen, the family caring for someone who had entered the ring hoping to provide for them, and those who believed boxing itself had failed Colón. Wilder understood the dangers better than most. The fact he coupled those emotions with a promise to walk away within three years, yet remains in the sport after Colón has passed, makes his words that night even more poignant. Wilder Linked to Oleksandr Usyk The circumstances are even more striking at a time when the Tuscaloosa, Alabama puncher is linked to facing one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world, Oleksandr Usyk. Wilder has experienced both sides of boxing’s brutality. His extraordinary right hand produced frightening knockouts during his championship career, while Wilder himself endured punishing encounters with Tyson Fury. Almost four years after his breakdown, Colón is gone. Wilder’s self-imposed three-year timeframe has passed. Yet the former heavyweight champion continues to climb through the ropes and could potentially do so against Usyk. The words Wilder struggled to deliver through tears that night will remain a painful reminder. “That’s why you can’t play this.” About the Author Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.