Boxing
Report: Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia Agree to December 11 Fight on Fury–Joshua Card
The reported agreement remains unsigned. A heavyweight meeting would follow earlier matchmaking talks publicly acknowledged by Dana White.
Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia have reportedly reached an agreement for a heavyweight fight on the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff on December 11, although contracts have not been signed.
BoxingScene’s Saturday report attributed the development to journalist Dan Rafael’s Friday reporting. Principality Stadium is the proposed venue. The distinction matters: agreement on a matchup is a further step in negotiations, while the report still leaves the final contractual commitment outstanding.
The pairing was already under discussion earlier in October. In an interview published by Sky Sports, Zuffa Boxing’s Dana White said Opetaia was likely to appear on the Fury–Joshua undercard and identified Wilder as an opponent being discussed.
White also said Opetaia’s longer-term interest remained a meeting with David Benavidez at cruiserweight. Those October comments established the matchmaking direction, rather than announcing that the December fight had been completed or that a subsequent Benavidez bout was signed.
A Wilder contest would take Opetaia into heavyweight competition after his unbeaten run at cruiserweight. Sky’s account described the Australian’s intention to remain active and potentially return to the 200-pound division afterward. No heavyweight title is identified as part of the new agreement report.
Wilder enters this stage with a 45–4–1 professional record and 43 knockout victories, according to BoxingScene’s fighter database. He turned 41 on October 22. His listed measurements are 6-foot-6 with an 83-inch reach, alongside an orthodox stance. His ledger includes 198 professional rounds.
His most recent fight ended in an April points victory over Derek Chisora at London’s O2 Arena, as Sky reported. Wilder’s experience includes a three-fight series with Fury, making the proposed undercard appearance another intersection with a familiar heavyweight rival.
For Opetaia, the immediate development is the reported agreement itself. The final signing and any subsequent official promotional announcement remain the next confirmation points.
