Deontay Wilder’s return to the ring is almost upon us. The former WBC heavyweight champion will step back into action against Tyrrell Herndon on Friday night in Wichita.

The undercard isn’t particularly stacked, though there is some local talent involved. However, the reason this event is being broadcast via PPV.com and other platforms is because of Wilder himself.

He remains the most recognizable name in American heavyweight boxing and still possesses that kind of one-punch power capable of turning a fight around in an instant. The event starts at 9 pm ET, but expect Wilder and Herndon to make their way to the ring closer to 11:30 pm inside Koch Arena.

Here’s a look at the main card:

• Deontay Wilder (43-4-1) vs. Tyrrell Herndon (24-5-0) - Heavyweight
• Deon Nicholson (21-1-0) vs. Devonte Williams (13-1-0) - Light Heavyweight
• Gustavo Trujillo (7-0-0) vs. Lateef Kayode (22-5-0) - Heavyweight
• Nico Hernandez (11-0-0) vs. Robert Ledesma (3-14-1)

Wilder came in heavier than Herndon at the weigh-in—225 pounds to 218. That weight mark is the heaviest Wilder has been since his consecutive losses to Tyson Fury in 2020 and 2021. In the weigh-in videos, Wilder looked visibly bigger.

Though Wilder managed to knock Fury down four times across those fights, it was Fury who stopped him in both of their last two meetings.

Since then, Wilder has dropped his last two bouts, most recently falling to Zhilei Zhang by KO in June 2024. After taking nearly a year off, he’s returning with the hope of positioning himself once again for a big-name showdown that could bring another significant payday or title opportunity.

Herndon, quite simply, is just the opponent. At least that’s all he’s intended to be. But boxing is unpredictable. For all intents and purposes, Herndon is overmatched here, but he already won in a sense when he successfully made weight Thursday night and secured what’s likely the biggest paycheck of his career.

This type of tune-up fight isn’t only about shaking off ring rust—it’s about reasserting relevance. Wilder needs to show everyone—fans, promoters, fellow fighters—that he still matters.

A quick stoppage would send that message loud and clear. However, if Herndon lasts several rounds or worse, finds any success, it will only deepen the uncertainty surrounding where Wilder truly stands right now.

It’s shaping up to be a packed combat sports weekend. The Wilder-Herndon matchup kicks things off on Friday. Then on Saturday night, Jake Paul faces Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., with the entire card drawing interest. UFC 317 also takes place Saturday evening, headlined by Ilia Topuria challenging Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title.

And just to add more to the mix, WWE is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for Night of Champions. I’ll have multiple screens running all day.

I’ll be watching and covering all the action live. Keep an eye out for real-time updates and post-fight breakdowns.

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