By Edward Chaykovsky

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (33-0, 32KOs) is likely not going to return to the ring until the summer. He captured the World Boxing Council title over the weekend with a twelve round decision over champion Bermane Stiverne at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Following the match, Wilder said he injured his right hand in the fourth or fifth round. Wilder had X-rays after returning back to Alabama and they appear to show a fracture in his in the knuckle area of his ring finger on his right hand. Wilder's right hand underwent surgery in 2009. He plans to see the same doctor who performed that procedure, for a general review of the injury, in the next couple of days.

"We won't know the extent of the injury until we get more information but we don't think it will keep him out of training long," said Jay Deas, Wilder's manager, to the Tuscaloosa News.

"He was going to be off to heal up after a very difficult fight. Now is a great time to get everything fixed. We don't expect any change in the schedule, which would have him back in the ring in the summertime."