Two more recognizable names have been added to the untelevised portion of Showtime's August 16th card headlined by the title bout between Shawn Porter and Kell Brook. According to Dan Rafael's blog, Deontay Wilder and Jorge Linares will fight the always dangerous TBA.
Wilder will be in for the first time since March when he blitzed Malik Scott in one round. By the time this fight rolls around, Wilder will have been in for only five rounds in the past 12 months. We're all hoping the fight with Bermane Stiverne happens before the end of the year, so it would behoove Wilder to get in some rounds in the meantime.
No opponent has been announced, but rumors are swirling Mike Sheppard might get the call. Sheppard has lost five of his last six, including a stoppage to Antonio Tarver, and 1st round TKOs to Vinny Maddalone and Ruslan freaking Chagaev. We can be sure the opponent will be a soft touch and no threat to Wilder's pending title eliminator with Stiverne.
Nothing sums it up better than this fantastic quote from Wilder's manager Jay Deas:
"If Deontay does not win this, then there is no Stiverne and there is no G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu grip for his daughters and there is no house on the lake and there is no college fund; there is no tuition being paid," said Deas.
Similarly, no opponent has been named for Linares. Assuming he beats TBA, he is slated to get the winner of Omar Figueroa vs. Daniel Estrada who fight on the televised portion of the card.