Australian cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will move up to heavyweight to fight former world champion Deontay Wilder on 11 December, ABC News reports. The bout will be part of the undercard for the Tyson Fury against Anthony Joshua contest at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, and will be streamed on Netflix.
Opetaia, who is unbeaten in 31 professional fights, has never fought a major contest above the cruiserweight limit. His promoter, Dana White, acknowledged it was a risky match given Wilder's punching power. Wilder, now 41, held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 but has lost four of his last seven fights. The contest is expected to be a one-off, with Opetaia likely to return to cruiserweight afterwards in pursuit of a fight with unbeaten American David Benavidez.
Source: ABC News