Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has reportedly agreed to a deal to face undefeated cruiserweight knockout artist Jai Opetaia on the undercard of the upcoming mega-fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. The highly anticipated event is scheduled to take place on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in Wales. The proposed bout brings together two of the most explosive punchers in modern boxing, significantly bolstering an already high-profile fight card.
The development was first reported by veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael, who shared details of the ongoing negotiations via social media. According to Rafael’s reporting, while formal contracts for the contest have not yet been signed by both parties, an agreement in principle has been reached to add the Wilder-Opetaia matchup to the December event. Writing on his X platform account, Rafael cited an insider source regarding the status of the deal, stating: "Per source, while it’s not signed yet, deal is agreed to for Wilder-Opetaia to be on the [Fury-Joshua] card." The verbal commitment marks a major step toward finalizing one of the most intriguing cross-divisional battles in recent boxing history.
For the 41-year-old Wilder, the prospective bout represents another significant test in a storied career defined by destructive punching power. Long recognized as one of the most lethal knockout specialists in heavyweight history, the former WBC champion has reached a transitional stage in his career where many analysts and fans feel he may be on the brink of retirement. Despite lingering speculation about how much longer he will continue to compete, Wilder remains widely viewed as an exceptionally dangerous heavyweight whose single-punch knockout ability can alter the course of any fight in an instant.
Wilder enters this potential December fixture following a hard-fought split decision victory over fellow veteran contender Derek Chisora in April. That contest proved to be a chaotic, grueling 12-round battle in which Wilder had to withstand heavy pressure from his opponent. Throughout the wild back-and-forth contest, Wilder demonstrated that his trademark power remains intact by scoring two knockdowns over Chisora. The judges ultimately awarded Wilder the split decision win, confirming his ability to prevail in high-intensity heavy-hitting encounters even in the later stage of his career.
Following his April victory against Chisora, Wilder and his promotional team reopened negotiations for a potential heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk. A clash against Usyk would have offered Wilder an immediate route back to the top of the division. However, those high-level discussions ultimately broke down and were officially scrapped. The collapse of the Usyk negotiations prompted Wilder’s team to explore alternative marquee matchups, leading directly to the discussions for a clash against Opetaia.
In Opetaia, Wilder would be sharing the ring with a fighter widely considered one of the sport’s premier pound-for-pound power-hitters. The Australian star boasts an undefeated professional record of 31 wins, with 24 of those victories coming by knockout. Opetaia reinforced his standing as a ruthless finisher just last month, securing an impressive ninth-round stoppage victory over Noel Mikaelian. That convincing win showcased Opetaia’s offensive versatility and set the stage for a dramatic step up to test himself in boxing’s heaviest division.
Opetaia’s decision to move up to heavyweight and take on a fighter of Wilder’s stature represents a major leap in ambition. Moving up from cruiserweight to face a natural heavyweight puncher carries significant physical risks, but it also offers Opetaia an opportunity to showcase his talent on a massive global platform. By agreeing to step into the ring against Wilder on December 11, Opetaia is placing his undefeated record on the line in pursuit of a marquee victory that would elevate his standing across the entire boxing landscape.
Despite his willingness to step up to heavyweight for the Cardiff event, Opetaia’s forward-looking fight plans also remain tied to his native division. The Australian champion has kept himself firmly in the picture for future super-fights, having already reached a verbal agreement for a cruiserweight showdown against David Benavidez targeted for May 2027. Taking on a heavyweight fight against Wilder in the interim underscores Opetaia’s commitment to staying active while pursuing major opportunities across multiple divisions over the next several years.
While Opetaia currently stands as the agreed-upon opponent for Wilder’s next outing, the American veteran was also linked to other prominent figures in the heavyweight division. Prior to the breakthrough in negotiations with Opetaia, Wilder had been linked with a potential clash against Murat Gassiev. Gassiev currently holds the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight title, and a matchup against the Russian power-hitter would have offered Wilder a direct path toward capturing a sanctioning body belt. However, momentum ultimately shifted toward the high-profile showdown with Opetaia on the Cardiff stage.
The inclusion of Wilder versus Opetaia provides an exceptional co-feature for an event already anchored by one of the biggest bouts in modern boxing. The main event at Principality Stadium features Tyson Fury colliding with Anthony Joshua in a monumental British heavyweight clash. Adding even greater magnitude to the headliner, the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title will be on the line. The winner of the main event will achieve a landmark legacy accomplishment by becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, making the card one of the most historic boxing spectacles of the era.
The prospective addition of Wilder versus Opetaia ensures that the December 11 event in Wales will feature an extraordinary density of world-class punching power. For Wilder, a victory over an undefeated champion in Opetaia would provide a firm response to critics who believe his career is drawing to a close, proving that his signature power remains a decisive factor against top-tier opponents. For Opetaia, facing Wilder represents the ultimate test of whether his aggressive style and knockout power can successfully translate to the heavyweight level against one of the division’s most feared historical champions.
With negotiations between the two camps verbally agreed upon per reports, boxing fans now await the formal signing of contracts and an official announcement from fight organizers. Should the deal be finalized as expected, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will host an explosive night of boxing on December 11, featuring both the W
