Wilder, Pacquiao and Verhoeven among names linked to Fury vs Joshua undercard in Cardiff

None of eight possible fights for the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard has been confirmed, World Boxing News reported, though Dana White has said he wants Jai Opetaia vs Deontay Wilder on the card.

Deontay Wilder against Jai Opetaia and a rearranged Abdullah Mason vs Joe Cordina fight are among eight bouts linked to the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 11 December, World Boxing News reported. None has been officially confirmed, and the supporting bill for the Netflix event has yet to be announced.

Sky Sports reported that Opetaia, the cruiserweight star, could face the former WBC heavyweight champion, and Dana White has confirmed he wants the fight on the card. Wilder and Fury fought each other three times at heavyweight.

Richardson Hitchins and Keyshawn Davis have both publicly discussed a December fight, but nothing has been signed. Hitchins said he had accepted the bout but was still waiting for paperwork: “I accepted this fight over a month ago still no contract or anything official.” The unbeaten champion added that time was running out.

Eddie Hearn has raised the possibility of Mason vs Cordina at lightweight. The fight was booked for 4 July in Cleveland before Cordina, a former world champion, was denied a US visa.

Filip Hrgovic vs Frank Sanchez has been mentioned as a possible IBF heavyweight title fight. Hrgovic has a mandatory obligation to face Sanchez but has also expressed interest in fighting Rico Verhoeven on the Cardiff bill.

Verhoeven has been called out by former UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem, who has announced his intention to box professionally, although that remains a callout rather than a negotiation. World Boxing News said Turki Alalshikh is keen to have Verhoeven on the card. Verhoeven trains under Peter Fury, Tyson Fury's uncle and former trainer.

Manny Pacquiao has also been linked to the event, though discussions about his next fight have involved several possible opponents. His right-hand man Sean Gibbons was coy about Pacquiao fighting on an undercard at this stage of his career. Australian heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana, previously linked to the event by The Ring, and Odel Kamara are the other names mentioned, with no opponents identified for either.

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