Huseyin Cinkara has vowed to “knock senseless” Jai Opetaia after his arrival in Australia for their IBF cruiserweight title fight.
The undefeated German, 40, challenges Opetaia on December 6 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in the Gold Coast, where Opetaia lives, and after the Australian was forced to endure the disappointment of learning that his leading rival Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez plans to instead fight David Benavidez, Cinkara has vowed to leave in ruins the remainder of Opetaia’s plans for 2026.
Cinkara had been scheduled to challenge Opetaia at the same venue in January until injury ruled him out and he was replaced by New Zealand’s David Nyika, who in turn was stopped inside four rounds, but 11 months on he is determined to seize his opportunity against the fighter widely recognised as the world’s leading cruiserweight, and he spoke like a challenger who believes that he can succeed where the aggressive Nyika failed.
“Look, I’ve got respect for Opetaia – he’s earned his place,” Cinkara said. “But respect don’t win fights. Power does. And I’m the harder puncher between us. If he wants to dance, I won’t be surprised. I don’t think he wants to trade with me. I hit harder; I hit faster.
“I’ve been training like a man possessed. Every morning; every spar; every drop of sweat is for December 6th. I’m not here to play nice – I’m here to take the belts.
“[Opetaia’s previous challenger Claudio] Squeo seemed to be too polite. I’m coming over to knock Opetaia senseless in front of his own fans. I’m not asking for respect – I’m demanding it. And I’ll get it the only way I know how.
“I know people write me off but I will prove them wrong. I believe vulnerability is real – and I see cracks. I see chinks in his armour. I’m not blind. December 6, those belts change hands.”
Opetaia has made little secret of his desire to win the undisputed title before moving up to heavyweight, so the plans of Ramirez – the WBA and WBO champion – to fight Benavidez in May represented a significant blow.
The Australian heavyweight Justis Huni remains scheduled to fight Kiki Toa Leutele of New Zealand in the chief support to Opetaia-Cinkara, but the sudden death of his trainer Keri Fui means that his participation remains in doubt and that the all-Australian super-middleweight contest between the promising Max McIntyre and Jed Morris could yet replace it.
