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Live sport on SN this weekendWeight and see as Opetaia enters fight mode for Wilder
Murray Wenzel, AAP • October 20th, 2026 4:28 pm
Unbeaten Australian cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is in line for a heavyweight opponent | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Jai Opetaia has launched into a fight camp ahead of a potential heavyweight move to face Deontay Wilder on the biggest night in European boxing history.
The unbeaten Australian cruiserweight champion (31-0) is in talks with the former WBC heavyweight champion ahead of a potential clash on December's Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua card at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
AAP understands it is not a done deal, with Opetaia one of several options on the table for Wilder.
A bout against former WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder could be on the cards for Jai Opetaia | Photo: EPA
The bout is forecast to rake in more than $50 million in gate takings and shatter pay-per-view and streaming records to become the most lucrative ever staged on the continent and fourth-highest of all time.
Australian knock-out artist Opetaia is preparing as if he'll be there, entering fight camp this week at his Gold Coast base.
The Ring champion remains in a US court dispute with the IBF, who stripped him of their belt after he debuted and won Dana White's Zuffa Boxing rebel league's maiden world title strap.
He then beat WBC champion Noel Mikaelian in September in Las Vegas, Mikaelian also surrendering that belt for the chance to fight the Australian.
Opetaia and David Benavidez, who will fight Michal Cieslak in a three-belt unification match in September, then verbally agreed to a much-anticipated duel in May next year.
American David Benavidez and Jai Opetaia have verbally agreed to a bout in May next year | Photo: EPA
But the Australian is keen to stay busy and boost his profile against Wilder, who even at 40 poses a great risk with his height and punching power.
"I don't want Jai to fight Wilder," Benavidez told Last Stand Podcast.
"Wilder, he has that right hand. And it's fast. Opetaia surprised me in his last fight, because he got hurt like four times. And Mikaelian is super slow.
"You can say whatever you want about Wilder, but he still has that cannon."
Max McIntyre will put his titles on the line against New Zealander Francis Waitai | Photo: Zain Mohammed/AAP
Meanwhile, Opetaia's rising Tasman Fighters stablemate Max McIntyre has secured his next tussle, with the super middleweight to face Francis Waitai in New Zealand on December 4.
McIntyre (11-0) will put his IBF Pan Pacific and WBC Australasian titles on the line in the trans-Tasman clash against New Zealand's No. 1 in the division.
Jai Opetaia on his heavyweight ambitions | Fight Club
