Deontay Wilder vs. Curtis Harper | BLK Prime - April 26, 2025

[Ruthless-RKO]

Deontay Wilder signs for comeback fight versus Curtis Harper

Whatever debate existed over whether Deontay Wilder should fight again has been settled by the former world heavyweight champion himself.

A boxing official familiar with the situation said Wilder and heavyweight Curtis Harper have each submitted signed contracts to fight in a bout targeted for April 26 in Atlanta and streamed by BLK Prime.

The Ring magazine originally reported Jacksonville’s Harper, 18-11 (12 KOs), had signed to fight Wilder, the former WBC champion who is coming off four losses in his past five bouts.

After surrendering his belt to Tyson Fury by seventh-round TKO in 2020, Wilder engaged Fury in the 2021 fight of the year, getting knocked down three times and finished by an 11th-round knockout.

Alabama’s Wilder returned with a knockout victory over Robert Helenius, but was then outboxed by former WBA champion Joseph Parker in a December 2023 loss in Saudi Arabia.

Wilder, 43-4-1 (42 KOs), returned to the Middle East in June and was dealt a crueler fate, a fifth-round battering and stoppage at the hands of China’s Zhilei Zhang.

Wilder manager Shelly Finkel said his fighter has been lifted by his recovery from shoulder surgery and is confident about resuming a career that includes his 2008 bronze medal in the Olympics and a title reign from 2015-2020.

In Harper, Wilder meets a 36-year-old best known for his 2018 decision to walk out of a Minnesota ring before a punch was even thrown with opponent Efe Ajagba.

A four-fight losing streak, including defeats to Top Rank prospects Richard Torrez Jr. and Guido Vianello, followed, but Harper posted four victories last year – never going past the second round – and his toughness is seen as an asset that will make the Wilder comeback bout interesting for as long as it lasts.

Wilder was poised to formally announce his comeback plans Saturday at a news conference in Los Angeles, but the session was canceled due to wildfires that have ravaged Southern California.

It’s expected more will be known by week’s end.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Scott Reacts

“The last two guys that he fought are probably two of the toughest guys he’s fought in his career. Zhang is a southpaw, and is big and more imposing. Parker is an above-average fighter that Deontay took after a long layoff. After a long layoff, he’s fighting the best in the world/ What people have a problem with is the performance level. Him not going in there and performing at a certain level.

“We got to see what he wants to do. It’s up to him to see if he wants to have a good year in the division like I know he can. The ability is there. Obviously, the hunger isn’t the same as the first two years after he turned pro because he’s waking up with silk pajamas. He’s getting in that Rolls Royce, and he’s got everything that he came into the game for,” Scott said

[Tony1244]

If Wilder had fought a couple Curtis Harper's BEFORE his last two KO losses perhaps he wouldn't have lost. You can't fight less than once a year without significant rust.

[cormack]

can we have a who gives a toss option on the poll ...

[gilgamesh]

They definitely dug up a guy that Wilder can beat in Harper.

[cormack]

They definitely dug up a guy that Wilder can beat in Harper.

isnt he the same guy who quit before a punch was thrown a few fights back

[gilgamesh]

They definitely dug up a guy that Wilder can beat in Harper.

isnt he the same guy who quit before a punch was thrown a few fights back

I think so. I primarily remember him for an entertaining slugfest he had with Chris Arreola some years ago.

Edit: Just looked it up. That was almost 10 years ago now that he fought Arreola.

[Thomastearns]

Harper is near perfect opponent for Wilder to return against.

Even the most cynical of boxing fans, well used to seeing protected champions with padded records, must be a little surprised just how far and fast Wilder's reputation sank after those loses against Zhang and Parker.

Here's Harper against Zhang from May 2017.

[aumonier]

Even though he won't say it out loud, it is clear in Wilder's mind that he is near the end of his career, or at least that he won't be near the top world level anymore (a fight against Usyk or Dubois for a belt would be very immerited, his losses to Parker and Zhang are like eliminators in a title shot).

I think that if he wants to stay in business, since he can't fight top level anymore, is to find boxers that have some notoriety and live a few remaining fights before he retires.

Here we have a boxer that is known (even if it is for a fight he didn't actually do but left before he starts). It remains a good boxer, with a positive record and a streak of wins (well, against low level foghters - end of fight against Slaughter is kinda ridiculous), and who made ok performances against prospect (went to scorecards against Vianello, saw the eighth round against Knyba and Torrez Jr, even won against a couple that were probably supposed to beat him - Tufte was 15-0, Thun was making his US progression).

It is not tye fight of the year, and woth a win Wilder won't be much better ranked, bit at least he keeps bofing and making boxing still in the news, I see no trouble with that.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Finkel says it’s not happening. No news on whether Wilder will retire

[gregregegg]

Surely he will cash another 8 figure payday vs AJ.

[Sweet Dick Willie]

Who the fornicate is Curtis Harper

[Sweet Dick Willie]

And by the way, who the fornicate is Deontay Wilder