Opetaia vs. Wilder in Cardiff? Dana White Says It's in the Works

Status: Reported, not signed. No bout agreement has been announced.

Just when you figured the Dec. 11 card at Principality Stadium couldn't get any more British, here comes an Alabama heavyweight and an Australian cruiserweight.

Dana White told Sky Sports that Jai Opetaia "is more than likely going to be on the undercard" of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. About the opponent, White said Deontay Wilder "is one that we've been talking about and working on." Then came the line that tells you everything: "It's a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now."

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Yeah, no kidding.

Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) is the best cruiserweight in the world, and he's coming off a ninth-round stoppage of Noel Mikaelian on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas. He's a southpaw, he's disciplined, and he's talked about heavyweight for a while. But he'd be walking in with a guy who has 43 knockouts on his record and the most famous right hand of the last decade.

Wilder (45-4-1) is 40 now, and he's not the guy who used to finish people with one shot every time out. His win over Derek Chisora in April at The O2 was a grind over 12 rounds, not a highlight reel. Still, the one thing that ages last on a puncher is the punch. That's why this matchup is so interesting.

According to Dan Rafael, Wilder's manager, Shelly Finkel, said that Turki Alalshikh's people called to see if they'd be interested in Opetaia for the co-feature. "We went back and forth and they said OK to a number but I haven't heard back from them," Finkel told Rafael. Finkel also said Wilder would have preferred WBA heavyweight titleholder Murat Gassiev, and that they're still talking to Gassiev's camp too.

So: an offer accepted on one side, and "more than likely" on the other. Nothing's signed.

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Why would Opetaia even do this? Activity, for one. White said the Aussie wants to stay busy and "doesn't care if it's at heavyweight or wherever." But his real target is David Benavidez, the man he wants on Cinco de Mayo weekend 2027. A win over a name like Wilder raises his stock going into that fight. A loss would hurt it badly.

For Wilder, it's simple. It's a huge stage, a payday, and a chance to remind people what he can still do with one punch.

Bottom line: it's a risky bet for Opetaia and a lifeline for Wilder. If it gets done, it might be the most dangerous fight on the whole card, the main event included.

One more thing: one outlet's report put the card on Dec. 12. It's Friday, Dec. 11.

Sources: Bad Left Hook, Sky Sports, BoxingScene, Dan Rafael (Fight Freaks Unite)