Deontay Wilder's Return: What To Know About His Next Opponent

Forbes

29-03-2025

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 29: Deontay Wilder of Team Matchroom during the media workouts at ... More Boulevard World on May 29, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by)
Deontay Wilder is returning to the ring. The 39-year-old slugger with a record of 43-4-1 with 42 KOs is set to headline a Global Combat Collective event called Legacy Reloaded.
Wilder will face Tyrrell Herndon on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
The event will be streamed live on BLK Prime. Here's everything you need to know about Herndon.
Experience
Over his 10-year professional career, Herndon has fought 29 bouts, accumulating 100 rounds of ring time, though mostly against lower-tier opponents.
Professional Record
Herndon has a professional boxing record of 24-5 with 15 knockouts.
Age and Background
Herndon is 37 years old and hails from San Antonio, Texas. Many of his pro fights have taken place in his home state.
Physical Traits
Herndon is 6'3', so the 6'7" Wilder will have a massive height advantage.
Last Fight
Herndon is on a three-fight win streak. In his last fight, he knocked off Rudy Silvas by split decision in May 2024. When he steps in the ring with Wilder, he'll have been out of the ring for more than a year.
Notable Losses
Herndon has been a bit of a gatekeeper for upcoming talent. He was knocked out by Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in October 2023, and he suffered an 89-second KO loss to Efe Ajagba in 2017.
This is a Dream Fight for Herndon
In a 2019 Instagram post, Herndon wrote, 'Manifesting. Idols become rivals eventually…' alongside a photo with Wilder.
As a justifiably massive underdog, Herndon may rue the day he wished for this fight to go from dream to reality.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 22: Deontay Wilder reacts after weighing in ahead of the Heavyweight ... More fight between Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker during the Day of Reckoning: Weigh-In on December 22, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by)
Even with Wilder's seemingly depleted state, most would expect him to get past Herndon. The veteran is simply being placed here as an opponent who gives Wilder an opportunity to shine.
If he wins as expected, he'll have a highlight-reel KO on his recent résumé, which could potentially facilitate a fight with Anthony Joshua—or more likely, a clash with current Professional Fighters League Super Fights MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 25: Francis Nganno looks on during a public workout ahead of the ... More Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou boxing match at Boulevard Hall on October 25, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by)
Wilder and Ngannou have expressed a desire to fight each other in the past, and the fight has never made more sense than it does now. Ngannou had two unsuccessful dips into the sweet science when he narrowly lost a split decision to Tyson Fury in late 2023, and he was savagely knocked out by Joshua in 2024.
Meanwhile, Wilder has endured back-to-back losses to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker. If Wilder can't just defeat Herndon—but dominate—few will believe he has a chance to beat Ngannou, let alone rise in the ranks to fight for another championship.
Herndon may as well be the Notorious B.I.G. in the classic song 'What's Beef?' He'll have 'nothing to lose tattooed around his wounds, everything to gain, embedded in his brain.'
Any success he enjoys against Wilder will be icing on the proverbial cake. Be on the lookout for more information on the card as we get closer to the event.