Wilder says yes: Opetaia clash on Fury vs Joshua undercard moves closer
Deontay Wilder's camp has accepted an offer to face Jai Opetaia in Cardiff, according to reporter Dan Rafael. The bout is not yet official.
Archive image · Photo: Layton Dudley / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
A fight between Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard is taking shape. According to US reporter Dan Rafael, Wilder's manager Shelly Finkel confirmed that the 40-year-old American's camp has accepted the offer. Both sides are still awaiting final confirmation, Boxing News reports, while Boxing News 24 says the bout still needs sanctioning. It would take place at heavyweight on 11 December at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Rafael also reported talks with Wilder's team about a fight with WBA champion Murat Gassiev. A previously mooted Wilder bout with Oleksandr Usyk fell through. Wilder last won a split decision over Derek Chisora, whom he floored twice.
Unbeaten Australian Opetaia, a former two-time world champion, would move up from cruiserweight for the fight. He last stopped Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round. According to Boxing News, Opetaia has also verbally agreed to face David Benavidez around Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2027.