Wilder vs Verhoeven: Rico Verhoeven claims he is in talks to face Deontay Wilder on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua on December 11. However, a Wilder Opetaia clash is also on the table.
Fury and Joshua will finally meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff for the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title.
Ex-kickboxing champion, Verhoeven made his professional boxing debut in May. The Dutchman came close to scoring a major upset, but Oleksandr Usyk ultimately stopped him in a bid for the WBC heavyweight title. That performance has put him in line for another big fight.
Now, the 37-year-old claims he could return against former heavyweight champion, Wilder in Cardiff.
Wilder vs Verhoeven possible
“I can’t confirm just yet,” Verhoeven told talkSPORT. “What I can tell you is they offered me Deontay Wilder.
“I said yes. So of course the details need to be talked about.
“I’m waiting on a response. So if there’s a yes from the other side it’s going to happen.”
That means the fight now depends on the American’s camp agreeing terms.
Wilder Opetaia
However, Wilder is apparently also in talks to face WBA ‘regular’ cruiserweight world champion, Jai Opetaia, which could rule out Wilder vs Verhoeven.
If the sides agree terms, a Wilder Opetaia fight will take place at heavyweight.
Wilder, 40, was last in action in April where he outpointed Derek Chisora in London. Meanwhile, Opetaia stopped Noel Mikaelian to win the aforementioned WBA strap.
Opetaia, 31, fights for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing and the UFC boss admits he would prefer a Wilder Opetaia bout to Wilder vs Verhoeven.
“I have said publicly that is a fight I’m interested in,” White said earlier this week.
“I talked about putting that fight on the Cardiff card.”
With both options on the table, nobody yet knows whether fans will get Wilder vs Verhoeven or Wilder vs Opetaia in Cardiff on December 11.
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