Deontay Wilder's brother Marsellos was unable to defeat 6-13 journeyman Eric Abraham in his boxing return last night.
The cruiserweight fighter was out of the ring for over two years after the coronavirus pandemic, last boxing in November of 2019 against Dustin Long on the undercard of his brother's rematch with Luis Ortiz. He was knocked out by 2-1-2 Long on that card, and opted to take time away before returning in Florida yesterday.
But the result wasn't much better, with Abraham battling to a plucky split decision win over the younger Wilder on the undercard of Cesar Francis vs Mohamed Mimoune. Pro Box TV put on the event, where Wilder vs Abraham began the fight card at the Whitesands Events Center.
Wilder had the height and reach advantages going into the fight, but struggled to get to grips with Abraham's southpaw stance and tricky style, although one judge did score it in his favour. Roy Jones Jr on commentary believed that it was the hooks landed in rounds three and five that likely tipped the fight in his favour, while Paulie Malignaggi believed it was won in the sixth.
"Congratulations to him, he came in, put the work in and got a victory," Jones said on the call. "Round one, Wilder got caught with a hook and that put him on notice that the kid can punch, that shot hurt Wilder more than any of them and because of the bigger and better punches that'd be why he got the decision - it was the signature punch for him."
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"That last round may have sealed it for him," Malignaggi added. "He landed a hook just before the bell in a round that may have been on the cusp and may have gone to Wilder if he hadn't landed that big hook right at the end of the round."
Abraham had last won a fight in June of 2019, and had since lost nine on the bounce including seven stoppages, six of which came within three rounds. He had remained more active than Wilder, fighting eight times since the Alabama native's last outing, but was expected to be an easy victory.
Wilder now faces an uncertain boxing future, having turned down the opportunity to fight Tommy Fury on the undercard of his brother's trilogy with Tyson Fury last October. His record now stands at 5-3, where he has lost his last two fights.
