Jai Opetaia Could Face Deontay Wilder on The Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Fight Card, Says Dana White

With Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua dominating headlines, their undercards have also generated significant buzz. Dana White recently hinted that Jai Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) could face Deontay Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) in what could be an explosive showdown.

“Jai Opetaia is more than likely going to be on the undercard. Wilder is one that we’ve been talking about and working on,” he said. In conversation with Sky Sports.

Wilder has become the obvious option because his previously expected fight with Oleksandr Usyk appears to have collapsed. He had been strongly linked with Usyk for what was expected to be a major Zuffa Boxing fight, potentially in early 2027, but reports now say those negotiations are dead. That leaves Wilder looking for an opponent, while Opetaia is actively looking for a meaningful fight to keep him busy.

Opetaia also has a very specific reason to take the risk. White says the Australian “doesn’t care if it’s at heavyweight or wherever” and simply wants to stay active. His real ambition remains becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion. The proposed Wilder fight would therefore essentially be a one-off heavyweight adventure rather than Opetaia permanently abandoning cruiserweight. Reports indicate that a Wilder fight would not necessarily interfere with the potential Benavidez fight in 2027.

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“The guy’s willing to fight anybody. It’s a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now. But he’s a fighter; he’ll fight anybody, even at heavyweight with a guy who hits as hard as Wilder does,” he said.

“Fight He Really Wants”

Meanwhile, it can be said that Opetaia’s biggest dream yet would be to fight for the cruiserweight throne against David Benavidez. However, according to White, he isn’t someone who will sit idle while waiting for Benavidez.

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

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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