Jai Opetaia reiterated on Saturday that he plans to become the cruiserweight champion as soon as 2025 and move up to heavyweight to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his belts when he still holds them.
Size difference
Usyk and Jai met during the Ring Awards on Saturday. When they stood on the sidelines, Usyk looked much bigger than the 6’2″ Opetaia. If this fight goes through, Opetaia will not be able to enjoy his usual size, which he has come to rely on at cruiserweight.
In addition, his one-armed fighting style could lead to him being outclassed and outclassed by Usyk. Jai uses a Bivol-esque hybrid style that he clearly learned from watching the former WBA light heavyweight champion. Usyk has seen that style many times during his years on the novice circuit in Ukraine and will easily overcome it.
If Usyk loses his title to Daniel Dubois in the rematch, it will put Opetaia in a position where he will need to decide whether to go after the belts against a powerful puncher. It would be a bad look on Opetaia’s part to fight Usyk though.
That would make him look like a coward. Jai will be short on Dubois if that fight happens. Even if Opetaia stacks up, he’ll be thin next to Dubois inside the ring. I don’t see a positive outcome for the Australian. He is NOT another Evander Holyfield. He doesn’t have that kind of talent.
Opetaia’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, will have to create the unification fights he needs to become the cruiserweight champion this year against WBC champion Badou Jack and WBA/WBO/WBO champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez to have a shot. to achieve his goal this year. .
IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) challenged David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round on January 8 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.
Cruiserweight First
“I’m glad it happened that way. The fans got what they were looking for. It was good to come back home, and to have such strength,” said Jai Opetaia speaking to talkSport Boxing, discussing his recent victory over David Nyika on January 8 in Australia.
“No, I’m ready to go again. “I’m chasing those unification fights,” said Opetaia, reacting to being told that his face looks out of place less than a week after his four-round fight with Nyika.
“I got a little relief. “After the first round, I had this image in my head of a Hagler-Hearns type of fight,” Opetaia said of his big shots to the 6’6″ Nyika in the tournament. “It was good to be a part of it. I’m just happy to do a good show and fight well.
“Absolutely, man. That’s the goal,” said Opetaia about not competing at cruiserweight and moving up to heavyweight to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for world titles.
Oleksandr Usyk and Jai Opetaia e #TheRingAwards pic.twitter.com/9zNJoeq1Ax
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025
