Tyson Fury has issued a damning verdict on the chief-support bout for his conflict with Anthony Joshua, as Deontay Wilder prepares to box Jai Opetaia.
On 11 December, Fury will battle Joshua at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, in a long-awaited British heavyweight duel. And on Wednesday, it was announced that Wilder will star on the undercard, taking on Opetaia.
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Opetaia, 31, is an unbeaten former cruiserweight champion, and the Australian will transfer up to heavyweight to face Wilder, a previous rival of Fury.
Tyson Fury at the AO Arena in Manchester (Peter Byrne/PA)
Wilder, 41, secured a controversial draw with Fury in 2018 before struggling stoppage losses in their 2020 rematch and 2021 trilogy battle. The second end result saw Fury take the WBC heavyweight title from the American, as Wilder was crushed for the first time.
The defeats by Fury marked a downturn in type for Wilder, but he will enter Cardiff on the back of a factors win over Derek Chisora in April.
“It’s silly really, for Deontay’s part,” Fury instructed Fight Hype. “He should not be in the ring. It’s a dying shame that this man has to continue to fight when he’s shot to bits.
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“He should never have fought again after I beat him the last time. That should have been the finish of it. But, wants must…
“If you are getting knocked out by people you should have knocked out yourself…” Fury continued, seemingly referencing Wilder’s 2024 stoppage by Zhilei Zhang.
“Him and Chisora were shockingly terrible when they fought. Chisora is like 145 years old [42] and he was taking Wilder’s knockout power shots that are not there anymore. It is a shame, because if you want to match them five years ago, it would not have lasted one round.
Deontay Wilder (left) during his win over Derek Chisora in April (PA Wire)
“It is a exhausting factor to stroll away from. We have seen so many of the greats come back, for whatever motive, over the years – often financial causes. It’s a unhappy state.”
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Wilder and Joshua were also linked for many years, and they were closest to fighting each other in early 2024. The pair shared a fight card in December 2023, and they were due to face each other next if both won. “AJ” stopped Otto Wallin, but Wilder was outpointed by Joseph Parker.
Fury, 38, was also an elusive opponent for Joshua, 37, until September’s announcement that they will finally sq. off.
The pair are both former two-time world heavyweight champions. Fury will enter their battle on the back of a stoppage win over Mariusz Wach, 47, in July; one day later, Joshua climbed off the canvas twice in spherical one to stop Kristian Prenga in spherical two.
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