While a big heavyweight card is on the horizon for December 11 when Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will battle for British glory, Zuffa Boxing promoter Dana White tells Sky Sports that he’s aiming to bolster the card by potentially adding Jai Opetaia to the ticket in a heavyweight fight against former world champion Deontay Wilder.
“Jai Opetaia is more than likely going to be on the undercard. [Wilder] is one that we’ve been talking about and working on…The guy’s willing to fight anybody,” White said of Opetaia. “It’s a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now.”
White would add that Opetaia wants to stay active in meaningful fights whether it be at heavyweight or cruiserweight, so it’ll be up to him to secure the kind of bouts he craves which could prove difficult.
Opetaia, 31, last fought about a month ago, stopping Noel Mikaelian in nine rounds of action. Should he formally be lined up against Wilder, it would be easily be his most dangerous opponent to date. Wilder is clearly past his prime and is no longer draped in the aura of being boxing’s biggest puncher, but his reputation and name value would certainly be a step up for Opetaia nonetheless.