Undefeated Deontay Wilder, considered perhaps America’s No. 1 heavyweight prospect, is expected to face ex-beltholder Sergei Liakhovich on Aug. 9, likely as the main event of a triple-header in the Tuscaloosa resident’s home state of Alabama on Showtime, according to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer.

“That fight is going to be on Aug. 9 from Alabama, and I’m going to be finalizing that card in the coming days,” said Schaefer. “If you look at the heavyweight landscape, Deonatay is ready. We want to unleash the beast.”

The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist is coming off a first-round knockout of 2000 Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison in April. In January, Wilder (28-0, 28 knockouts) scored a second-round stoppage of Matt Greer, whom he floored three times.

Liakhovich, 36, is 2-4, with two knockouts since rising from a seventh-round knockdown to defeat Lamon Brewster for the WBO belt in April of 2006. Liakhovich has suffered consecutive ninth-round knockout losses to unbeaten contenders Robert Helenius and Bryant Jennings in August of 2011 and March of 2012, respectively.

According to ESPN.com, Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez said the card could match junior middleweight Jermall Charlo (14-0, 10 KOs) of Houston against Miami’s Antwone Smith (23-4-1, 12 KO),and Mexican junior lightweight Francisco Vargas (16-0-1, 13 KOs) could fight Cincinnati’s Brandon Bennett (15-0, 7 KOs).

Photo by Tom Hogan, Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]