Deontay Wilder vs Jai Opetaia Officially Set for December 11

Jai Opetaia vs Deontay Wilder Showdown Confirmed for December 11.

Jai Opetaia has been handed the fight of his life as he gambles on moving up to heavyweight to take on thunder-hitting former world champion Deontay Wilder.

Samoa’s unbeaten cruiserweight maestro, a contender for the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighter, will venture into uncharted waters by tackling the explosive American veteran.

The fight takes place on the undercard of the blockbuster Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua show at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on December 11.

Wilder is now 41 and perhaps not the destructive force of old.

But taking on one of the biggest hitters the sport has witnessed still represents a daring gamble for Opetaia, who is 10 years his junior.

The world-beating Gold Coast-based southpaw and The Ring Magazine champion protects his perfect 31-fight record.

It is the first major fight above the 200-pound division for Opetaia.

His promoter Dana White admitted: “It’s a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now.”

White added: “But he’s a fighter; he’ll fight anybody, even at heavyweight with a guy who hits as hard as Wilder does.”

It looks poised to be a one-off, with Opetaia likely returning to cruiserweight afterwards to chase a showdown with American David Benavidez, the division’s other major unbeaten force.

Last time out in Nevada in September, Opetaia stopped Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round and called out ringside observer Benavidez, whose heritage has earned him the nickname the “Mexican Monster.”

Opetaia said to Benavidez: “Respectfully, let’s get it on.”

“That’s the fight Jai really wants, so we’ve got to figure that one out,” White said.

“He wants to stay active, he wants to fight, and he doesn’t care if it’s at heavyweight or wherever. He’s ready to go.”

Wilder, though, is by far the biggest name Opetaia will have faced.

A champion who held the WBC belt for five years between 2015 and 2020.

He had an epic trilogy of fights with Briton Fury, coming off worse twice after an extraordinary draw in their first bout.

But Wilder has lost four of his last seven contests.

In his last outing, he had to battle to earn a scruffy points win over British contender Derek Chisora in London in April.

His career record stands at 45 wins, four losses and a draw.

The all-British bill-topper between Fury and Joshua is being sold as the biggest night of boxing ever witnessed in the UK.

Tickets in Cardiff went within an hour of going on sale.

The bill is being screened globally on Netflix.

One boxing analyst wrote that Wilder is doing what most fighters do when they stay in the sport too long – clinging to false hope.

In that author’s opinion, Wilder is being used as a resume booster and should be forced to retire following a loss, especially if he gets knocked out.

Wilder’s power is the last thing a fighter loses as they age.

However, Wilder mentally and perhaps physically isn’t the same man who used to stop a fight instantly with one punch.

He took two brutal beatings in a trilogy with Fury.

Furthermore, his defeat at the hands of Joseph Parker and a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang have sunk his stock.

In the Parker fight, he seemed afraid to pull the trigger.

Wilder’s overall boxing ability has seriously faded.

Moreover, he takes more incoming fire and his punch resistance isn’t there anymore.

Meanwhile, Opetaia is taking a risk by going up to heavyweight before a possible mega-fight against multi-divisional champion David Benavidez in 2027.

In his last outing against two-time champion Norair Mikaeljan, Opetaia took several right hands.

In the fight against Wilder, he will have to be mindful of the former champion’s powerful right hand.

Oleksandr Usyk has also confirmed plans to return to cruiserweight for a blockbuster showdown with David Benavidez.