Deontay Wilder to fight Johann Duhaupas on September 26

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs) will defend his belt against little-known French fighter Johann Duhaupas (32-2, 20 KOs) on September 26 in his home state of Alabama.

Wilder, 29, will be making the second defence of the title he won when outpointing Bermane Stiverne in January.

Since then, the 6'7" champion has stepped back in competition to the level he was fighting before he won the belt - in June he fought part time fighter-full time teacher Eric Molina, whom he stopped in the 9th round, and now 34-year-old Duhaupas, whose only notable win is a majority decision against Manuel Charr in April in his last outing.

However, this fight is just another tune-up before Wilder takes on mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin, set for January, in what will be a serious challenge.

Povetkin, who has knocked out his last three opponents since his points loss to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013, is scheduled to fight Mariusz Wach on November 4 in Russia.