DEONTAY WILDER’S next defence of the WBC heavyweight will be broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports.
His fight with Alexander Povetkin, scheduled to take place in Russia in May, fell through after the Russian failed a drug test. To avoid his training camp going to waste, Wilder brought in Chris Arreola to oppose him as a short-notice substitute.
The champion returns to his home state, Alabama, to fight in Birmingham’s Legacy Arena and has been keeping active. He’s already boxed on in 2016 and fought three times last year, including winning the WBC heavyweight crown.
Arreola has only won once since 2013, when he outpointed Curtis Harper over eight rounds in 2015, after losing a WBC title fight with Bermane Stiverne the previous year. He drew with Fred Kassi in July and the result of his December bout with Travis Kauffman was changed to a no decision after Arreola tested positive for marijuana.
