The heavyweight division’s top three fighters of the last ten years are set to share the spotlight on December 11. While Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua headline the much-anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, the evening’s main undercard will feature Deontay Wilder taking on former cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, Netflix announced Wednesday.
Although Opetaia, a former two-time IBF cruiserweight champion, could be moving back down to cruiserweight to pursue a major bout against David Benavidez, he is stepping into the heavyweight ranks for this December matchup. The 31-year-old Australian (31-0, 24 KOs) has already had two fights this year, decisively beating Brandon Glanton in March and stopping Noel Mikaelian via ninth-round TKO in September.
Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs), who held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 with 10 successful defenses, lost the belt to Fury in February 2020. The 41-year-old American has struggled at the division’s elite level since, going 3-3, but is currently riding a two-fight winning streak following a thrilling split decision victory over Derek Chisora in April.
Fan Take: This event is a must-watch for fight enthusiasts as it brings together some of the most influential heavyweights of the past decade on one card. Wilder vs. Opetaia offers an exciting crossroads bout that could shake up the heavyweight landscape and potentially reshape future title contention.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
