Deontay Wilder to defend WBC heavyweight title vs. Johann Duhaupas on Sept. 26

Deontay Wilder's second title defense is set.

"The Bronze Bomber" will put his WBC heavyweight title on the line against Frenchman Johann Duhaupas on Sept. 26, a person with knowledge of the fight told Paste BN Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the bout hasn't been officially formalized. NBC will televise in prime time.

Duhaupas (32-2, 20 KOs) is unknown in the U.S., but is coming off the biggest win of his career, a majority decision win over Manuel Charr in April. The 34-year-old isn't likely to present problems for Wilder, but with the beltholder staying active with his third fight of the year, a bout of this magnitude makes sense to get him more seasoning.

Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs) won the title with a unanimous decision victory over Bermane Stiverne in January. Wilder, 29, returned against Eric Molina in June, a homecoming in Birmingham, Ala., and scored a ninth-round TKO but was surprisingly tested by the journeyman fighter. The fight against Duhaupas is being targeted for a site in Alabama as well.

This will be an option defense, but afterward, Wilder must face his mandatory challenger, Alexander Povetkin, in what will be a quantum leap in class. Povetkin, an Olympic gold medalist and former heavyweight champion, knocked out Mike Perez in one round to become the mandatory.

Povetkin fights Mariusz Wach on Nov. 4 in Russia.