Deontay Wilder vs Jai Opetaia: Fight date, venue, ring walk time, undercard, tale of the tape & more
The chief support for the most anticipated fight in the history of British boxing has been revealed as former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder takes on ex-cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia.
Famed for possessing some of the most devastating knockout power in boxing history, Wilder held the WBC title between 2015 and 2020 and boasts a KO-to-win percentage of 95.55%.
While he may no longer be at his destructive peak, the American proved he still has what it takes with the upper-echelon of the heavyweight division when he bested Derek Chisora over 12 rounds in April.
Standing across the ring from him on 11 December will be the undefeated Opetaia.
With an unblemished professional record across his 31 fights the Aussie is expected to face David Benavidez sometime in 2027 in a cruiserweight unification showdown.
To get there however, he must first try and nullify one of the sport's heaviest punchers when they meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Deontay Wilder vs Jai Opetaia - All you need to know
Date: | Friday, 11th December, 2026 |
Fight: | Deontay Wilder vs Jai Opetaia |
Approx Ring Walk Time: | 00:00 (GMT) - Saturday, 12th December |
Weight Class: | Heavyweight |
Titles: | N/A |
Referee: | N/A |
Promoters: | Zuffa Boxing |
Venue: | Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |
TV Channel: | Netflix |
Fight Date
The heavyweight co-main event between Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia is scheduled to take place on Friday 11th December, 2026.
Venue
Following months of protracted negotiations, the landmark Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua featuring Wilder vs Opetaia will take place at the 73,000-capacity Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
How to watch
Deontay Wilder vs Jai Opetaia, along with the full Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua event, will be available to stream live on Netflix.
The event will be available at no extra charge for Netflix subscribers.
Ring Walks & Fight Time
Reportedly a major source of disagreement during talks for Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua was the start time.
While the fight would ultimately be announced to be taking place in the UK, a concession was made to the American audience to stage the event closer to primetime stateside.
As such it is expected that the co-main event between Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia will get underway in the early hours of Saturday 12th December, with a potential start time of 00:00 GMT.
Tale of the Tape
Deontay Wilder | Jai Opetaia | |
Record: | 45-4-1 (43 KO) | 31-0 (24 KOs) |
Age: | 41 | 31 |
Birthplace: | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA | Sydney, Australia |
Height: | 6' 7″ / 201cm | 6′ 2″ / 188cm |
Stance: | Orthodox | Southpaw |
Last Fight: | Won (SD) vs Derek Chisora (Apr 2026) | Won (TKO) vs Noel Mikaelian (Sep 2026) |
KO%: | 95.55% | 77.41% |
Alias: | 'The Bronze Bomber' | - |
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard
- Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua - WBA title
- Deontay Wilder vs Jai Opetaia - Heavyweight bout
