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Wilder to fight Opetaia on Fury v Joshua undercard
Deontay Wilder will face Jai Opetaia on the undercard of Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua in Cardiff on 12 December. The bout is set to be the co-main event, giving Wilder a chance to return to heavyweight contention and testing unbeaten cruiserweight champion Opetaia at heavyweight for the first time.
Wilder, 41, has a record of 45 wins, four losses and one draw, with 43 knockouts; he held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 and has fought Fury three times. Opetaia, 31, is 31-0 with 24 knockouts and previously held the IBF cruiserweight title. The main-event tickets sold out in under an hour, while the rest of the undercard is yet to be announced.
In short
- Wilder and Opetaia meet on the Fury v Joshua undercard.
- Opetaia will make his heavyweight debut.
- The Cardiff main-event tickets sold out in under an hour.
Explained simply
Professional boxing is organised into weight divisions, with heavyweight above cruiserweight. Deontay Wilder is an American heavyweight known for his punching power and held the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020. He has fought Tyson Fury three times.
Jai Opetaia is an Australian boxer who has competed at cruiserweight and has held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight title. Moving up to heavyweight would put him against larger opponents and mark a change in division. The bout brings together a former heavyweight champion and an unbeaten boxer stepping up in weight.