Australian world champion Jai Opetaia will feature alongside heavyweight megastars Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder on a blockbuster boxing card to be held in Saudi Arabia on December 24 (AEDT).
Joshua and Wilder will fight on the same night but against different opponents in Otto Wallin and Kiwi star Joseph Parker, respectively.
Opetaia will defend his IBF and The Ring Magazine cruiserweight belts against undefeated Brit Ellis Zorra, with the pair coming face to face for the first time at the official announcement press conference overnight.
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Opetaia, 28, claimed the world title with a memorable win over Mairis Briedis last year and defended his belt for the first time in September following a long layoff due to a broken jaw.
Former heavyweight champions Joshua and Wilder have long been touted for a bout despite both losing their world titles.
If both win their fights next month, it could finally pave the way for a meeting in early 2024.
Britain’s Joshua will take on Swede Wallin after Wilder faces Parker on the undercard.
“I can’t predict the future but I know where I want to go, I know what I want to do,” Joshua told a press conference.
“I set out a plan at the start of this year and I’m sticking to that. I’m a man of my word and I stand firm on what I believe, and I believe I want to be three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
“And my first stop to that… Is putting on a demolishing job against Otto Wallin.”
Joshua lost his heavyweight belts to Oleksandr Usyk, while Wilder was defeated twice by Tyson Fury.
Wilder has not fought since a first-round knockout victory over Finland’s Robert Helenius in October 2022.
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Joshua also knocked out Helenius in the seventh round in his last bout in August.
Usyk and Fury were expected to headline the December 23 card in an undisputed clash, but that meeting was postponed following Fury’s controversial points win over MMA star Francis Ngannou.
The card is also set to feature Russian lightweight king Dmitry Bivol and British heavyweight Daniel Dubois.
Full card
Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin
Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker
Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller
Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur
Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro
Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa
Filip Hrgovic vs Mark De Mori
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel
