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5 Potential Opponents For Deontay Wilder’s Next Fight

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5 Potential Opponents For Deontay Wilder's Next Fight

Deontay Wilder celebrates becoming WBC heavyweight champion
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With his unanimous decision win over Bermane Stiverne on Saturday night, Deontay Wilder became the first American to hold a version of the heavyweight title since 2007. Wilder is now the new WBC heavyweight champion of the world, but the real journey is only just beginning for the ''Bronze Bomber''. Defending his title will now be the main objective, and here are five potential opponents for Wilder's first title defense.

5. Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko weighs in for heavyweight title defence
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5. Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko weighs in for heavyweight title defence
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Despite Wilder's win, Wladimir Klitschko is still the undisputed No. 1 heavyweight on the planet until proven otherwise. A fight between Wilder and Klitschko will begin to build now that the American has captured the WBC title, but if Wilder wants to face Klitschko next, he will have to wait a while as the Ukrainian is slated to fight Bryant Jennings of Philadelphia sometime in April in New York.

4. Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury speaks at press conference
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4. Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury speaks at press conference
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This is the fight most people want to see between two fresh faces on the heavyweight scene who both bring entertainment in and out of the ring. Fury is the mandatory challenger for Klitschko's WBO belt, but a fight with Wilder may just entice the UK fighter into a contest for the WBC instead. A win over Wilder would deliver a championship belt and a future Klitschko fight anyway, so there may be some hope, although unlikely to be next.

3. Bermane Stiverne

Bermane Stiverne enters the ring to fight Deontay Wilder
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3. Bermane Stiverne

Bermane Stiverne enters the ring to fight Deontay Wilder
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Wilder doesn't exactly have a slew of options for his first defense, so could the new champion engage in a second fight with Bermane Stiverne? It's doubtful and an outside bet, but the pair's first encounter was an exciting one. If some of the bigger fights in the division are unable to be made right now, then a rematch could make more sense than some of the lesser-known names in the division.

2. Antonio Tarver

Antonio Tarver
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2. Antonio Tarver

Antonio Tarver
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At 46 years of age, Antonio Tarver is on a mission to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history by beating the record of George Foreman, who was 45 years old when he originally set the record in 1994. Don't let the age fool you, though; Tarver is still very competitive for his age, and if the options get a bit thin, or Wilder and his team set their sights on a recognizable name with pedigree, then don't totally rule out Wilder vs. Tarver.

1. Alexander Povetkin

Alexander Povetkin weighs in for heavyweight fight
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1. Alexander Povetkin

Alexander Povetkin weighs in for heavyweight fight
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If Wilder and his team decide to glance down the WBC rankings, they will see the name of Alexander Povetkin as the next challenger in line. There was discussion of a title eliminator between Povetkin and Mike ''The Rebel'' Perez recently, but there is also now the possibility that Team Wilder will see Povetkin as a fitting opponent to take on immediately in the American's first defense.

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