In what he anticipates being an “extremely dangerous” fight, Tim Bradley has offered his thoughts on the upcoming showdown between Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia.
The pair will square off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11, with Opetaia making his heavyweight debut on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
Having become a two-time world champion – unanimously outpointing Mairis Briedis on both occasions – the Australian is arguably the top dog at 200lbs.
After scoring a ninth-round stoppage of Noel Mikaelian in September, though, the 31-year-old is now looking to test himself against one of the big boys.
Both in terms of his profile and stature, Wilder seems to fit that criteria but, based on his scrappy split decision victory over Derek Chisora in April, many feel that the 41-year-old is well past his best.
As for his notorious power, however, Hall of Famer Bradley has said on his YouTube channel that Wilder nonetheless represents a risky opponent for Opetaia.
“A lot of people think that Wilder is done; everybody saying he’s buttermilk.
“But the last thing that goes on a fighter is that power. There’s been too many times where I’ve seen Opetaia fall asleep and get cracked with right hands from smaller guys, but big guys in his weight class.
“And he wobbles a little bit. He doesn’t go down – he fights it and he stays strong, mentally – but he ain’t been hit by no damn heavyweight.
“He about to get hit by a heavyweight. Not just a heavyweight, but Deontay Wilder. I look at this fight as being extremely dangerous for Opetaia. [But] I think it’s a winnable fight, because I feel like he’s the better boxer.”
Bradley also made the point that Wilder, while still possessing considerable power, no longer punches with the same conviction that he did in his prime.
