Deontay Wilder will face Jai Opetaia on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua on December 11 in Cardiff, Wales, it has officially been confirmed.

Reports emerged in October that Opetaia, the unbeaten leading cruiserweight, was willing to step up a weight class and do battle with the former WBC heavyweight champion.

Wilder, 45-4-1 (43 KOs), last fought in April, when he outpointed fellow veteran Derek Chisora over 12 rounds in London. Prior to that, the 40-year-old had lost four of his previous six bouts.

Those defeats included two knockout losses to Tyson Fury, a points defeat to Joseph Parker and another stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang.

Australia’s Opetaia, 31-0 (24 KOs), is likely to enter the contest with Wilder – currently scheduled for 12 rounds – as the favorite. The 31-year-old southpaw has dominated the 200lbs division since upsetting Mairis Briedis in 2022.

Wilder, however, represents his most accomplished opponent to date.

“The co-main event is officially set,” said Zuffa Boxing’s Dana White on social media.

“These two guys have a combined 67 knockouts. You do not want to miss this fight.”

Wilder had been in the running to face Oleksandr Usyk after the Ukrainian opted to relinquish his heavyweight belts in pursuit of “one last dance”.

Usyk, however, is now planning a return to cruiserweight.