Wilder to fight Duhaupas on Sept. 26 in Alabama

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Deontay Wilder - Johann DuhaupasWBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (34-0, 33 KO’s) will return to the ring on September 26 in his home state of Alabama to take on Frenchman Johann Duhaupas at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, according to a report by FOX 6 WBRC in Birmingham.

The fight will be Wilder’s second defense following a unanimous decision victory over former titlist Bermane Stiverne in January to claim the belt. The 6’8” giant knocked out fringe contender Eric Molin inside the ninth round in June in his first title defense.

The 34-year-old Duhaupas, who stands at 6’5”, will enter the ring with a record of 32-2 with 20 knockouts. After losing a one-sided match against Erkan Teper in March, Duhaupas escaped Russia with a narrow majority decision victory over former title contender Manuel Charr in April.

Wilder has his sights set on defeating Wladimir Klitschko as both men vie to unify the division, but the 29-year-old has a few mandatory title defenses to take care of first. Current WBC Silver heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin and British superstar Anthony Joshua are a few guys who could be getting that shot in the near future.

If Wilder wants to face Klitschko – there is hope – as the Ukrainian inked a five-fight deal with longtime German television partner RTL in July.

Weighing-in at 229-pounds for the Molina fight, tying a career-high, some questioned Wilder’s motivation coming into the fight, considering that Molina was put away by Chris Arreola in the first round back in 2012.

In the third round, Molina went on the attack and caught Wilder with an overhand right and a left hook, which momentarily surprised Wilder, but the champ stood his ground and nailed his adversary with ferocious right hands all night, dropping Molina three times before the final missile blew out the remaining structure Molina had in the ninth.

I expect Wilder to carry Duhaupas throughout the fight and ending it with a late KO.