Australian cruiserweight Opetaia to fight heavyweight Wilder in Cardiff
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 19:51 · Archive
Australian cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will move up to heavyweight to fight former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on 11 December at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, on the undercard of the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua fight. The unbeaten Gold Coast-based fighter, with a record of 31 wins, will face the 41-year-old American veteran in what will be Opetaia's first major fight above the 200-pound division.
Widler, now 41, is perhaps not the force he once was, but remains one of boxing's hardest hitters. Opetaia, 10 years his junior, is a contender for the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter and a Ring Magazine champion. His promoter Dana White acknowledged the risk, saying: '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.'
The fight is expected to be a one-off, with Opetaia likely to return to cruiserweight afterwards to pursue a showdown with American David Benavidez, the other major unbeaten force in the division. In his last fight in Nevada in September, Opetaia stopped Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round.
How it is being reported
- Walk on the Wilder side: heavyweight move for bold JaiAustralian cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia has been handed the biggest fight - and test - of his career against former world heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder.The West Australian · 4 Nov, 19:13
- Walk on the Wilder side: heavyweight move for bold JaiAustralian cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia has been handed the biggest fight - and test - of his career against former world heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder.Perth Now · 4 Nov, 19:13
In this story: Jai Opetaia · Deontay Wilder · Dana White · David Benavidez · Tyson Fury · Anthony Joshua · Principality Stadium · Cardiff
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