Jai Opetaia will step up to the heavyweight division to face former world champion Deontay Wilder on the undercard of the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua blockbuster in Cardiff on December 11, in what his promoter Dana White called "a very dangerous fight."
Australia's unbeaten cruiserweight champion, The Ring Magazine titleholder Opetaia (31-0), will gamble on moving up to the 200-pound-plus division to take on the explosive American veteran. The fight is set for Principality Stadium in Cardiff on December 11, streamed live on Netflix, and is expected to be a one-off before Opetaia returns to cruiserweight to chase a showdown with David Benavidez.
Wilder, 41, held the WBC heavyweight belt for five years between 2015 and 2020 and engaged in an epic trilogy with Fury. But he has lost four of his last seven contests and eked out a points win over Derek Chisora in April, leaving his record at 45-4-1. Opetaia, 10 years his junior, last fought in September, stopping Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round in Nevada and calling out ringside observer Benavidez: "Respectfully, let's get it on."
Dana White, Opetaia's promoter, acknowledged the risk: “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.” White added that Opetaia wants to stay active and does not care if he fights at heavyweight or elsewhere.
The all-British bill-topper between Fury and Joshua, billed as the biggest night of boxing ever witnessed in the UK, saw tickets in Cardiff go within an hour of going on sale and will be screened globally on Netflix.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- This is a career-defining gamble for Opetaia: moving up from cruiserweight to face one of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history puts his undefeated record and pound-for-pound standing at risk.
- The fight adds depth to an already historic event; the Fury-Joshua undercard now features a compelling cross-division matchup that could produce fireworks.
- A win for Opetaia would open up huge opportunities at heavyweight or solidify his claim to a cruiserweight unification bout with David Benavidez.
Background
Jai Opetaia, 31, is the Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion and widely considered among the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. Deontay Wilder, 41, was the WBC heavyweight champion for five years before losing the belt to Tyson Fury in 2020; his knockout power remains legendary despite recent losses. The December 11 event in Cardiff, headlined by Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua, is promoted as the biggest night in British boxing history.
Key Perspectives
What to Watch
- Whether Wilder still has the power and timing to test a cruiserweight moving up, or if Opetaia's speed and southpaw stance will trouble the ageing former champion.
- The outcome of the Fury-Joshua main event: a decisive result could overshadow or elevate the undercard fights.
- Where Opetaia goes next: a victory could force the Benavidez fight at cruiserweight, while a loss might end his undefeated run and reshape the division.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedOpetaia will fight Wilder on the Fury-Joshua undercard.Just In: “Jai Opetaia will move up to the heavyweight division to face former world champion Deontay Wilder. The fight will be on the undercard of the all-British heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.”
- SupportedOpetaia will move up to heavyweight for a Cardiff fight on December 11.Just In: “The fight will take place in Cardiff and be streamed live on Netflix on Friday, December 11, local time.”
- SupportedDana White called the fight “a very dangerous fight.”Just In: “with his promoter Dana White admitting: "It's a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now.”
- SupportedOpetaia is an Australian cruiserweight champion and a Ring Magazine titleholder.Just In: “Australia's unbeaten cruiserweight maestro, a contender for the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter, will venture into uncharted waters ... as the world-beating Gold Coast-based southpaw and The Ring Magazine champion protects his perfect 31-fight record.”
- SupportedOpetaia has a 31-0 record.Just In: “The Ring Magazine champion protects his perfect 31-fight record.”
- SupportedThe fight will be at Principality Stadium and streamed live on Netflix.Just In: “The fight will take place in Cardiff and be streamed live on Netflix on Friday, December 11, local time.”
- Partly supportedThe fight is expected to be a one-off, after which Opetaia will return to cruiserweight.Just In: “It looks poised to be a one-off, with Opetaia likely returning to cruiserweight afterwards to chase a showdown with American David Benavidez”
- SupportedWilder is 41.Just In: “Wilder is now 41 and perhaps not the destructive force of old”
- SupportedWilder held the WBC heavyweight belt for five years, between 2015 and 2020.Just In: “a champion who held the WBC belt for five years between 2015 and 2020”
- SupportedWilder has lost four of his last seven contests.Just In: “But he has lost four of his last seven contests”
- SupportedOpetaia stopped Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round in Nevada in September.Just In: “Last time out in Nevada in September, Opetaia stopped Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round”
- SupportedOpetaia said, “Respectfully, let's get it on,” to ringside observer Benavidez.Just In: “called out ringside observer Benavidez ... with the request: "Respectfully, let's get it on.”