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Wilder to Face Opetaia on Fury vs. Joshua Undercard
Confirmed
In Short: Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will fight Jai Opetaia on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua in Cardiff.
Unbeaten WBA 'regular' cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, 31, will step up to heavyweight for the first time to face Wilder, a former world champion with 43 knockouts.
Wilder, 41, held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 and is known for his powerful punches.
Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) aims to re-establish himself among the heavyweight elite, while Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) looks to challenge at the new weight class.
Opetaia's last fight was a victory over Norair Mikaeljan, and he previously held the IBF cruiserweight title.
Wilder's last fights include a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang and a points defeat to Joseph Parker.
Opetaia's future plans include a potential cruiserweight fight against David Benavidez if Benavidez wins his upcoming bout.
Wilder's career highlights include an epic trilogy with Fury, which he lost with a draw and two defeats.
The boxing community is watching closely as Wilder faces a new challenge against the undefeated Opetaia.
What this adds
Opetaia's decision to move up to heavyweight is a significant step in his career, while Wilder seeks to regain his former status in the heavyweight division.
What's confirmed
- Unbeaten WBA 'regular' cruiserweight champion Opetaia, 31, will step up to heavyweight for the first time to fight Wilder, a former world champion with 43 knockouts.
- Deontay Wilder is almost 10 years older than Jai Opetaia American Deontay Wilder will fight Australia's Jai Opetaia on the undercard of Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua in December.
- This will be a first high-level heavyweight fight for Opetaia, who is a previous holder of the IBF championship and a force at cruiserweight.
- Deontay Wilder vs. Jai Opetaia is joining the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff, Wales.
- Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia meet in a heavyweight clash The Tyson Fury vs.
What's still developing
- Wilder, 41, held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 and is regarded as one of the most feared punchers of his generation.
- Opetaia faced off against David Benavidez after his victory over Mikaelian and a future cruiserweight fight could still happen if the Mexican comes through his three-belt unification bout with Michal Cieslak.
- Deontay Wilder ‘s return to the ring on the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua undercard has been officially announced.
- A victory for Opetaia could set up a huge showdown at cruiserweight against David Benavidez in 2027, but ‘The Mexican Monster’ may also be about to turn his attention to a clash with Usyk next year, after the Ukrainian announced his plans to return to 200lbs.
- Can’t believe Wilder went from one of my favorite heavyweights to watch, to genuinely worried for him.
- The heavyweight division is bracing for impact.
- Deontay Wilder (45-4-1) possesses one of the most powerful right hands boxing has ever seen, and he’ll bring it to the ring against undefeated reigning cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (31-0) in a featured fight on a card headlined by Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) vs.
- The 41-year-old Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) is coming off back-to-back victories over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon and Derek Chisora.
- As for the 31-year-old Opetaia (31-0, 21 KOs), he continued his winning ways by stopping Armenian bruiser Norair Mikaeljan earlier this year in Las Vegas, though he did it without his IBF title.
- "But he's a fighter; he'll fight anybody, even at heavyweight with a guy who hits as hard as Wilder does."