Dan Rafael reports that Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia have agreed a deal, but that it is not signed. The report, covered by Boxing News 24 on 31 October, places the proposed bout on the 11 December Fury–Joshua card in Cardiff.
For Opetaia, it would mean a heavyweight debut against Wilder’s right hand. For Wilder, it offers an unbeaten cruiserweight opponent with a very different style.
This records the position in our 1 November edition. Wilder subsequently discussed another option, Murat Gassiev; neither item should be read as a confirmed date for Wilder’s next fight.
From our 1 November 2026 edition; added to the website on 5 November. Event dates and reporting cut-offs are stated above.
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For the record
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