Deontay Wilder has moved a step closer to making his return to boxing after signing a contract to face an American heavyweight.
The 39-year-old former WBC world heavyweight champion has not fought since suffering a brutal knockout loss to China’s Zhilei Zhang last June.
It was the second defeat in a row for ‘The Bronze Bomber’, who was outpointed by former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker at the end of 2023.
Wilder was faced with making an important decision on his career after that setback against Zhang, but it appears that the 39-year-old from Alabama has decided to move forward with his career after signing a deal to appear on a BLK Prime show.
As reported by Boxing Scene, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will lock horns with Curtis Harper, who has lost eleven of his 29 professional contests.
It has been reported that the American duo will clash on April 26 in Atlanta, Georgia, although an official venue is yet to be confirmed.
Harper, who is known as ‘The Hurt’, is remembered for walking out of the ring just 1-second into his bout with Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba, after it was revealed that the 36-year-old was not happy with his fight purse. He was handed with a disqualification loss following this controversial decision.
The 36-year-old has also shared the ring with the likes of Bakhodir Jalolov, Guido Vianello and Richard Torrez Jr, as well Wilder’s former opponent Zhang, suffering defeats to all four of the aforementioned fighters.
A clash with Harper is probably not something that was expected of ‘The Bronze Bomber’ in his return to the sport, but many feel the 39-year-old is easing himself back in to what is an extremely competitive heavyweight scene.
