BoxRec

Deontay Wilder-Jai Opetaia possible as the Fury-Joshua co-feature

Former heavyweight titlist has accepted an offer to face the lineal cruiserweight champion, who would move up in weight

Former longtime WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder is looking for a fight after discussions to challenge lineal champion Oleksandr Usyk hit a wall.

Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs), 39, of Ukraine, the former two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, who gave up his three remaining sanctioning body titles in June, said he wanted a “last dance” before retirement and wanted it in the United States. His preferred opponent was Wilder, who was very interested.

However, the fight was not finalized because, “Usyk asked for more money than Zuffa or Turki (Alalshikh) wanted to pay,” Wilder manager Shelly Finkel told Fight Freaks Unite.

So with an Usyk fight off the table, Finkel said that Alalshikh’s team recently called him to gauge interest in Wilder facing lineal cruiserweight champion (and Zuffa Boxing fighter) Jai Opetaia, who would move up to heavyweight, in the co-feature of the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua mega fight on Dec. 11 (Netflix) at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Wilder and Finkel are indeed interested.

“I’ve had conversations and I’m waiting for them to get back to me about Dec. 11,” Finkel said. “All things being equal Deontay would like to fight (WBA titleholder Murat) Gassiev. When I brought it to the people at Zuffa and with Turki they said they weren’t interested. They were interested in Deontay against Opetaia and I said, ‘Fine. This is what we’re looking for.’ We went back and forth and they said OK to a number but I haven’t heard back from them so we are also talking to Gassiev’s people.”

Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs), 40, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is coming off a split decision win over good friend Derek Chisora in a fight of the year candidate in April in London.

If Wilder, who is 0-2-1 in a heavyweight championship trilogy with Fury but never faced Joshua in a fight that was at one time in high demand, does end up facing Opetaia on Dec. 11 his addition to the card would mean the show would include the three biggest heavyweight stars of the era.

Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs), 31, an Australian southpaw, is coming off a one-sided ninth-round knockout of former two-time WBC cruiserweight titleholder Noel Mikaelian in the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn co-feature on Sept. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Looks like Tyson will be the only one to face all the main men of his era.

Jai Opetaia could fight Deontay Wilder on Principality Stadium bill

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and cruiserweight star Jai Opetaia look set to collide on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua all-British mega-fight on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff; Opetaia's long-term target remains David Benavidez

Deontay Wilder could fight Jai Opetaia on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua blockbuster clash on December 11.

Fury and Joshua meet in a long-awaited, much-anticipated all-British heavyweight fight at the Principality Stadium.

Wilder, the hard-punching former world heavyweight champion, is eyeing a place on the bill against elite cruiserweight Jai Opetaia.

Dana White, who promotes Opetaia, told Sky Sports: "Jai Opetaia is more than likely going to be on the undercard. [Wilder] is one that we've been talking about and working on."

It would be a first high-level heavyweight fight for Opetaia, the unbeaten Australian who has been a force at cruiserweight.

Wilder is now 40 years old but the former WBC titlist is still known for his fearsome punch-power.

"The guy's willing to fight anybody," White said of Opetaia. "It's a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now.

"But he's a fighter; he'll fight anybody, even at heavyweight with a guy who hits as hard as Wilder does."

Opetaia would likely return to cruiserweight afterwards. He and David Benavidez are considered the two best fighters in the 200lb weight class and Benavidez remains Opetaia's ultimate target.

"That's the fight he really wants. He wants that fight so we've got to figure that one out," White said, adding: "He wants to stay active, he wants to fight and he doesn't care if it's at heavyweight or wherever, he's ready to go."

Wilder had an epic trilogy with Tyson Fury and came close to setting a fight with Anthony Joshua, only to lose to Joseph Parker.

In his last fight Wilder battled to a points win over British contender Derek Chisora at The O2 in London in April.

Opetaia-Wilder Being Explored As Co-Feature For Fury-Joshua Card

According to The Ring’s Mike Coppinger, a fight between former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wildern and Ring cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia is being discussed.

That bout would serve as the co-feature before Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua headline a Ring show December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, streamed on Netflix.

Prior to Coppinger’s report Thursday during the premiere of the second season of “Inside The Ring,” both fighters were linked to other combatants.

Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) was in talks to face Ring heavyweight titleholder Oleksandr Usyk, which broke down. As for Opetaia, he appeared to be on a collision course with WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion David Benavidez.

The Ring champion Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) and Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs), The Ring’s No. 1 contender, stood nose-to-nose after the Australian stopped Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round on the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn undercard September 12.

The Phoenix native promised Opetaia that he would fight him after taking on Michal Cieslak, the division’s WBC champion, on December 12. Benavidez wants his bout against Opetaia to take place in May 2027, on Cinco De Mayo weekend, in Las Vegas.

Opetaia, while interested, previously told The Ring’s CEO, Rick Reeno, on the “Mr. Verzace Podcast” that he would like to remain active in the interim instead of waiting for Benavidez.

Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, found his winning form lately.

After losing four of five fights from February 2020 until June 2024, including three by stoppage and two to Fury, he has won two straight. In his last outing, he won a narrow split decision over Derek Chisora on April 4.

Now I've got a reason to be excited about this Netflix show.

Wilder getting paid to get knocked out by a cruiserweight. A fine end to his career. Can’t see him lasting more than a few rounds vs either Usyk or Jai at this point

The cheek of Usyk eh?
Asking top dollar to fight Wilder, the 40 year old washed up former protected 'champ'

mickey1975 wrote: ↑10 Oct 2026, 08:49 Looks like Tyson will be the only one to face all the main men of his era.

Hrgovic, Kabayel, Parker, etc

mickey1975 wrote: ↑10 Oct 2026, 08:49 Looks like Tyson will be the only one to face all the main men of his era.

At this point you've just become a parody of a fanboy

giacomino wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:20 Wilder getting paid to get knocked out by a cruiserweight. A fine end to his career. Can’t see him lasting more than a few rounds vs either Usyk or Jai at this point

My immediate thought was Wilder gets battered but Wilder is a tough boy & he's not as gung ho as he was prior to the two Fury stoppages.

Obviously Zhang blitzed him but Zhang is a MASSIVE puncher. Opetaia is a good, accurate puncher.

But who knows, maybe the extra 20 pounds will help Jai.

I just hope it doesn't negatively affect him v Benavidez in May.

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 14:49

giacomino wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:20 Wilder getting paid to get knocked out by a cruiserweight. A fine end to his career. Can’t see him lasting more than a few rounds vs either Usyk or Jai at this point

My immediate thought was Wilder gets battered but Wilder is a tough boy & he's not as gung ho as he was prior to the two Fury stoppages.

Obviously Zhang blitzed him but Zhang is a MASSIVE puncher. Opetaia is a good, accurate puncher.

But who knows, maybe the extra 20 pounds will help Jai.

I just hope it doesn't negatively affect him v Benavidez in May.

He ain't coming back to Cruiserweight if he fights Wilder (unlesshe loses). Zuffa will try like hell to insist Usyk fights him.

Why dont they just make the benavidez fight. I absolutely love that fight, this is just gonna fcuk it up. Is it dana sticking his baldy little head in again.

It seemed like such an easy fight to make.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:44 Why dont they just make the benavidez fight. I absolutely love that fight, this is just gonna fcuk it up. Is it dana sticking his baldy little head in again.

It seemed like such an easy fight to make.

Opetaia vs Benavidez is going to be an even bigger fight when it's for the Heavyweight Championship of the World instead of the Cruiserweight Championship of the World. This isn't gonna f*ck it up. So long as both men keep winning.

Taansend wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 14:46

mickey1975 wrote: ↑10 Oct 2026, 08:49 Looks like Tyson will be the only one to face all the main men of his era.

At this point you've just become a parody of a fanboy

Don't let facts stop the insults, mate.

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:57

mickey1975 wrote: ↑10 Oct 2026, 08:49 Looks like Tyson will be the only one to face all the main men of his era.

Hrgovic, Kabayel, Parker, etc

When have any of them EVER been the main man? Tyson, Usyk and Wilder have. Femi was the main man commercially for a while, too. Some people really rate that.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:58

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:57

mickey1975 wrote: ↑10 Oct 2026, 08:49 Looks like Tyson will be the only one to face all the main men of his era.

Hrgovic, Kabayel, Parker, etc

When have any of them EVER been the main man? Tyson, Usyk and Wilder have. Femi was the main man commercially for a while, too. Some people really rate that.

Wilder was never the #1 in the division. Who did he ever beat? Ortiz was ancient. Who else did he beat? Nobody.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:53

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:44 Why dont they just make the benavidez fight. I absolutely love that fight, this is just gonna fcuk it up. Is it dana sticking his baldy little head in again.

It seemed like such an easy fight to make.

Opetaia vs Benavidez is going to be an even bigger fight when it's for the Heavyweight Championship of the World instead of the Cruiserweight Championship of the World. This isn't gonna f*ck it up. So long as both men keep winning.

I just thought it was next. They both looked so cool and up for it. I hate it when we have to wait. Something always fcuks it up.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:12

gilgamesh wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:53

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:44 Why dont they just make the benavidez fight. I absolutely love that fight, this is just gonna fcuk it up. Is it dana sticking his baldy little head in again.

It seemed like such an easy fight to make.

Opetaia vs Benavidez is going to be an even bigger fight when it's for the Heavyweight Championship of the World instead of the Cruiserweight Championship of the World. This isn't gonna f*ck it up. So long as both men keep winning.

I just thought it was next. They both looked so cool and up for it. I hate it when we have to wait. Something always fcuks it up.

I never thought it'd be next. Boxing fans don't get what they want when they want it. They get it when THEY wanna give it to you

The next Heavyweight era is gonna need big matchups. Jai vs Benavidez may be the biggest one at least to kick off the next new era of Heavyweight Boxing

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:11

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:58

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:57

Hrgovic, Kabayel, Parker, etc

When have any of them EVER been the main man? Tyson, Usyk and Wilder have. Femi was the main man commercially for a while, too. Some people really rate that.

Wilder was never the #1 in the division. Who did he ever beat? Ortiz was ancient. Who else did he beat? Nobody.

Whilst Tyson was ill Femi and Wilder held the belts. Wilder was generally regarded as number one except a few Brits who bought the Matchroom hype.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:58

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:57

mickey1975 wrote: ↑10 Oct 2026, 08:49 Looks like Tyson will be the only one to face all the main men of his era.

Hrgovic, Kabayel, Parker, etc

When have any of them EVER been the main man? Tyson, Usyk and Wilder have. Femi was the main man commercially for a while, too. Some people really rate that.

Wilder doesn't have the wins to be a main man though. His reputation is based on hype not substance.

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:22

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:58

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:57

Hrgovic, Kabayel, Parker, etc

When have any of them EVER been the main man? Tyson, Usyk and Wilder have. Femi was the main man commercially for a while, too. Some people really rate that.

Wilder doesn't have the wins to be a main man though. His reputation is based on hype not substance.

I honestly don't think he has a reputation outside of the diehard Fury fans

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:17

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:11

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:58
When have any of them EVER been the main man? Tyson, Usyk and Wilder have. Femi was the main man commercially for a while, too. Some people really rate that.

Wilder was never the #1 in the division. Who did he ever beat? Ortiz was ancient. Who else did he beat? Nobody.

Whilst Tyson was ill Femi and Wilder held the belts. Wilder was generally regarded as number one except a few Brits who bought the Matchroom hype.

Give your head a shake man. Wilder was never #1.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:39

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:17

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:11

Wilder was never the #1 in the division. Who did he ever beat? Ortiz was ancient. Who else did he beat? Nobody.

Whilst Tyson was ill Femi and Wilder held the belts. Wilder was generally regarded as number one except a few Brits who bought the Matchroom hype.

Give your head a shake man. Wilder was never #1.

He may have been thought of as the man to beat if his proposed fight with Povetkin had ever come off, but it didn't, but Fury had definitely taken a lot of the cache off of being the Lineal Champion by pulling a Dempsey and not fighting for years. I get the feeling as much as Fury goes away and comes back and goes away and realizes he misses it and comes back again.

He'll probably really regret wasting so many of them prime years as he did. He might already regret it, but then again if he hadn't wasted those years, maybe he would've been knocked off the Mountain before Turki came along with his obscene amounts of money. So maybe it was all for the best in the long run.

So many strange circumstances in how the World of Boxing works. So many moving parts.

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:22

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 15:58

Cojimar 1946 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 13:57

Hrgovic, Kabayel, Parker, etc

When have any of them EVER been the main man? Tyson, Usyk and Wilder have. Femi was the main man commercially for a while, too. Some people really rate that.

Wilder doesn't have the wins to be a main man though. His reputation is based on hype not substance.

Matchroom literally signed Ortiz to keep him from AJ. Even if what you guys are saying is true, they are the perceived men of their era. Maybe leave Usyk out, he came along a bit late like a Heavyweight Steve Collins to disrupt the Brits. When Connor boxed Jr, you didn’t hear all the casuals crying “Oooh Steve Collins beat both their dads!”, did you? Nobody gave a fick just like they won’t come December.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:41

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:39

mickey1975 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2026, 16:17
Whilst Tyson was ill Femi and Wilder held the belts. Wilder was generally regarded as number one except a few Brits who bought the Matchroom hype.

Give your head a shake man. Wilder was never #1.

He may have been thought of as the man to beat if his proposed fight with Povetkin had ever come off, but it didn't, but Fury had definitely taken a lot of the cache off of being the Lineal Champion by pulling a Dempsey and not fighting for years. I get the feeling as much as Fury goes away and comes back and goes away and realizes he misses it and comes back again.

He'll probably really regret wasting so many of them prime years as he did. He might already regret it, but then again if he hadn't wasted those years, maybe he would've been knocked off the Mountain before Turki came along with his obscene amounts of money. So maybe it was all for the best in the long run.

So many strange circumstances in how the World of Boxing works. So many moving parts.

It gets forgotten that Wilder was signed and ready to fight Povetkin in Moscow.