Deontay Wilder expected to be sidelined until 2017

Deontay Wilder in action against Audley Harrison during their heavyweight fight on April 27, 2013
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WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is likely to be sidelined until 2017 after sustaining several injuries during Saturday's win over Chris Arreola.

Deontay Wilder has taken to social media to provide an update on his condition after his victory over Chris Arreola on Saturday night.

Arreola failed to come out for the ninth round after a dominant performance from Wilder, but the WBC heavyweight champion left the ring having sustained a broken hand, two dislocated fingers and a torn biceps.

The injuries are likely to keep the American sidelined until next year but Wilder has told his supporters that he will be "back soon".

In a video message on Instagram, the 30-year-old said: "As you know, I broke my hand and injured my hand real bad to the point where I bent the pins in my hand to a V-shape.

"I dislocated a couple of fingers, too. That's how hard I hit - to bend pins in your hands. My hand is very swollen right now and the pins are sticking out of my flesh a little bit but it'll be alright where I dislocated it.

"When I flex my bicep, you can see when I flex my arm that it's going in because my muscle is torn but I'm in good spirits and I'll be back soon. Stay tuned."

After the fight, Wilder said that he was keen to secure a unification showdown with either Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.

Anthony Joshua celebrates winning the IBF world heavyweight belt on April 9, 2016
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