Wilder In Talks For Title Fight On Fury-Joshua Card

Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (45-4-1, 43 KOs) is in talks for a potential title fight against WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev (34-2, 27 KOs).

The news arrives after Wilder accepted an offer to face unbeaten cruiserweight fighter Jai Opetaia on the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua undercard at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on December 11.

The 40-year-old American’s long-time manager, Shelly Finkel, indicated that the proposed Opetaia bout is awaiting confirmation, while discussions have also taken place over a WBA heavyweight title challenge against Gassiev.

The Opetaia fight would not have a heavyweight title at stake and remains the only proposed Wilder matchup currently linked to the Fury-Joshua undercard.

Wilder defeated Chisora by split decision in London on April 4, continuing his comeback after defeats to Joseph Parker in December 2023 and Zhilei Zhang in June 2024.

Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) would make his heavyweight debut if the proposed Wilder contest materializes. The unbeaten Australian most recently stopped Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round on September 12.

Gassiev, a former unified cruiserweight champion, won the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight title by stopping Kubrat Pulev in December 2025 and was later elevated to full champion. He made his first defense by stopping Peter Kadiru in July.

The Russian has also been linked with a December defense against Derek Chisora. Gassiev, though, has questioned whether the fight can proceed because Chisora is not ranked by the WBA. Gassiev has also questioned the WBA’s reported plan to sanction Fury-Joshua for a ‘Super’ heavyweight title while he remains the organization’s reigning champion.