Wilder–Opetaia joins Fury–Joshua as Paul puts a retirement pledge on his return

Deontay Wilder will face Jai Opetaia on the December 11 Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua card at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Netflix confirmed the addition Wednesday; ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported that the heavyweight bout will serve as the co-main event.

Opetaia moves up from cruiserweight with a 31-0 record. Wilder is 45-4-1. Netflix says the event will stream globally to its members at no additional charge beyond membership. The announcement reviewed Wednesday did not specify an exact ring-walk time.

The matchup asks a concrete question of Opetaia: how will his timing and distance management translate against a much more experienced heavyweight puncher? For Wilder, it supplies an unbeaten opponent whose success has largely come in a lighter division. The booking gives the main event substantial support without establishing any future title entitlement for the winner.

Paul’s conditional pledge for December 24

In a separate development, Jake Paul said he would retire from boxing if Cedric Doumbe defeats him on December 24. Okamoto reported the statement Tuesday evening, citing a video on Paul’s YouTube channel. It is a conditional personal pledge, not an announced retirement or a verified contractual stipulation.

ESPN reports that Paul and Doumbe are scheduled for a 10-round cruiserweight bout in Dubai. Paul’s reported boxing record is 12-2; Doumbe is a former kickboxing champion with one professional boxing victory. Paul last boxed against Anthony Joshua in December 2025.

Doumbe’s combat-sports experience and his limited professional boxing record describe different things. That distinction is more useful in assessing this matchup than treating Paul’s retirement promise as a competitive credential. Both December contests are upcoming events; neither has an outcome to report.