Deontay Wilder could face Jai Opetaia in the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua clash on December 11.
Fury and Joshua meet in a much-anticipated and much-anticipated all-British heavyweight fight at the Principality Stadium.
Wilder, the hard-punching former world heavyweight champion, is looking for a spot on the bill against elite cruiserweight Jai Opetaia.
said Dana White, who promotes Opetaia Sky Sports: “Jai Opetaia is more likely to be on the first list. (Wilder) is the one we’ve been talking about and working on.”
It would be the first top-level heavyweight fight for Opetaia, the undefeated Australian who has been a force at cruiserweight.
Wilder is now 40 years old, but the former WBC titlist is still known for his fearsome punching power.
“The guy is willing to fight anybody,” White said of Opetaia. “It’s a very dangerous fight for him, considering where he is 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.”
Opetaia will likely return to cruiserweight next. He and David Benavidez are considered the top two fighters in the 200 lb weight class and Benavidez remains Opetaia’s ultimate target.
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Jai Opetaia showed off his nasty combinations as he punished Jack Massey and forced a stoppage in the sixth round
“That’s the fight he really wants. He wants that fight, so we have to figure that out,” White said, adding, “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 had an epic trilogy with Tyson Fury and came close to a fight with Anthony Joshua, only to lose to Joseph Parker.
In his last fight, Wilder won on points over British contender Derek Chisora at The O2 in London in April.
