After undergoing hand and bicep surgeries on the back of his win over Chris Arreola in the summer, Wilder had been tipped for a return in January even though WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman previously stated to WBN that the ‘Bronze Bomber’ can have all the time he needs.
Wilder has suffered setbacks in the past but wants to make certain everything is in order before fighting again to avoid anything similar derailing his bid to begin claiming the rest of the world titles.
“Everything has been going good and surgery went well. My hand is progressing each and every day, so it’s coming along really well. I’m just anxious and ready to get back in the ring,” Wilder exclusively told World Boxing News.
“This time around, I’m taking my time to let it properly heal and once it’s properly healed that’s when the King returns.
“Right now, we’re working on a few things with the right hand like strengthening and flexibility, so once we have accomplished out goals we are seeking for that, then I will be released to throw the right hand as well. But we are taking it slow were not rushing it and we will see when I get 100%.
“We would like to be back sometime early next year, as early as possible, so we will see how it goes. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I want to just take my time because that’s why I made that mistake the last two times. When I injured my hand, I rushed back into it and my hand wasn’t properly healed that’s why it was still breaking because it wasn’t properly healed.
“This time around its going to be a lot different as my doctor has given me his word that 100% it’s not going to break this time if we do the proper things and we properly let it heal. So he’s keeping his word to that and I am doing my part, but I can’t wait to return I have been itching to get back.”
On Sulaiman’s decision to assure their champion, Wilder added: “We’re definitely greatful for that and it definitely allows me to sit back and relax, just take advantage of all the time that I need for it to heal, you know.
“I feel like the game has been a bit lonely and it’s been boring without Deontay Wilder and many people are eager to see me get back in the ring. They are ready, and I hear it every day. I hear it on my social media and I just can’t wait to return and unify. I can’t wait for everything to go as planned.
“I mean we had a plan before and it’s just time to go again. We just got a be patient and we just got to wait for the time to pass.”
The 30 year-old has always been unequivocal in his desire to take on the other champions in the division, and despite this recent setback to his blueprint, Wilder aims to get right back on that train once fully fit.
“That’s what we want but you know how it is. Some fighters already have fights lined up and stuff like that but we’re going to take the perfect measurement and approach to what’s going to make sense. You know, my whole goal is to unify that’s all I want I want to do – unify, unify, unify,” he said.
