Jai Opetaia risks Benavidez fight against Wilder

Australian takes a dangerous detour against former heavyweight champion

Jai Opetaia is taking a big risk on the road to a potential bout with David Benavidez. According to reports, he has apparently agreed to a fight with Deontay Wilder on the undercard of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. According to Dan Rafael, the bout hasn't been officially signed yet, but both parties are said to have already given their approval.

“Per source, while it’s not signed yet, deal is agreed to for Wilder-Opetaia to be on the #FuryJoshua card”

Rafael posted on X.

For Jai Opetaia, this is a chance to prove himself to a large audience while he’s on his way to setting up a bout with David Benavidez. From a sporting perspective, though, the risk is very high. Deontay Wilder is definitely very dangerous, that should by no means be underestimated. However, his best years are already behind him, which naturally gives critics room to remain critical even if Jai Opetaia wins. If he loses, though, his dream of a bout with David Benavidez could be dashed for the time being. A victory would also be very important for Deontay Wilder, as it could give his career a new boost. We’ll see how it ultimately turns out. But it will definitely be a bout with a lot at stake.