Tyson Fury has harshly criticized the main supporting fight on the undercard of his upcoming bout with Anthony Joshua, as Deontay Wilder gets set to face Jai Opetaia. Fury and Joshua are scheduled to fight on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in a highly anticipated British heavyweight showdown. It was also confirmed recently that Wilder will compete on the same card against Opetaia.
Opetaia, 31, an undefeated former cruiserweight champion from Australia, is stepping up to heavyweight to take on Wilder, Fury’s former adversary. Wilder, 41, previously drew controversially against Fury in 2018, but suffered knockout defeats in their 2020 rematch and 2021 trilogy fight—the second of which saw Fury claim the WBC heavyweight belt by handing Wilder his first loss.
Since those defeats, Wilder’s performances have declined, although he did secure a points victory over Derek Chisora in April. Fury told Fight Hype, “It’s really foolish on Deontay’s part. He shouldn’t be fighting anymore—it’s heartbreaking to see him continue when he’s clearly past his prime. He should have stopped after I beat him last time, but needs must.” Fury also seemed to reference Wilder’s recent stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang in 2024, adding, “If you’re getting knocked out by fighters you should’ve knocked out yourself… Both Wilder and Chisora were embarrassingly poor when they fought. Chisora is 42 and still took shots from Wilder’s knockout power that no longer exists. Five years ago, that fight wouldn’t have lasted a single round.”
Fury acknowledged how difficult it is for fighters to retire, often returning due to financial reasons, calling it a “sad state.” Wilder and Joshua had long been linked to a potential clash and came close to fighting in early 2024. They appeared on the same fight card in December 2023 and were lined up to meet next if both won. However, Joshua scored a stoppage over Otto Wallin, while Wilder was outpointed by Joseph Parker.
The November announcement finally made the long-anticipated Fury vs. Joshua fight official. Both men are former two-time heavyweight champions. Fury enters the bout fresh off a stoppage win over Mariusz Wach in July, while Joshua rebounded strongly after knocking down Kristian Prenga twice in the first round before stopping him in the second.
Fan Take: This undercard clash and the Fury vs. Joshua showdown represent pivotal moments for heavyweight boxing, signaling a shifting of the guard and potential huge drama for fight fans. How Wilder performs against Opetaia and how Fury and Joshua deliver on their promise could redefine the heavyweight division’s future.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
