Jai Opetaia has cleared a hurdle ahead of his next ring appearance.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF has canceled a purse bid for Opetaia’s ordered 200lbs title defense against mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara. The session was due to take place on Tuesday, already rescheduled from the originally assigned August 26 hearing.
Since this story was published, both parties have publicly confirmed that they will meet on a forthcoming date this fall. The bout will take place in Opetaia's native Australia, revisiting plans from when they were due to meet earlier this year.
“I’m already deep in preparation and ready to put on another exciting show," Opetaia said in a statement provided by Tasman Fighters. "Cinkara is unbeaten and dangerous, but this is my time. I’ve been calling for unifications, but the other champions don’t seem to want it.
"First, I have to take care of Cinkara—and then we keep chasing those belts. One thing’s for sure: the titles are staying in Australia.”
Tuesday’s development came as Opetaia, 28-0 (22 KOs) saw his name tied to a couple of other notable opportunities. It was recently suggested that his team sought a higher profile showdown with former WBO 200lbs titlist Chris Billam-Smith, for a targeted November date in Opetaia’s native Australia.
The unbeaten lineal, RING and IBF champ was also mentioned in a possible heavyweight clash with veteran gatekeeper and former title challenger Derek Chisora. The matchup was suggested by boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, whose Riyadh Season shows have housed three of Opetaia’s six lineal and RING championship defenses.
Both will have to take a backburner, as Opetaia and co-promoters Tasman and Matchroom Boxing opted to first take care of his mandatory.
“Jai Opetaia has proven himself as an elite world champion and a global star," stated Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn. "Facing an undefeated challenger like Cinkara shows the kind of fighter he is—always ready to take on the biggest threats. This is a fight the world will be watching.”
Cinkara, 23-0 (19 KOs) – a 40-year-old Germany born, Turkey-based contender – was previously due to face Opetaia on January 8 at Gold Coast Convention Centre in the champ’s current Gold Coast hometown. The show went on but without Cinkara, who was forced to withdraw less than four weeks from the event due to torn ligaments suffered during training camp. The 30-year-old southpaw has since added a fifth-round knockout of Italy’s Claudio Squeo – 17-0 at the time on June 8, also at Gold Coast Convention Centre.
The venue holds a special place in Opetaia’s heart. It also housed his July 2022 IBF cruiserweight title win over Mairis Briedis, a fight which saw the 2012 Olympian overcome a broken jaw to prevail via unanimous decision. Opetaia earned a repeat unanimous decision victory over Latvia’s Briedis last May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Opetaia went on to face David Nyika, whom he violently knocked out in the fourth round of their entertaining – if not one-sided – championship fight.
The 30-year-old southpaw has since added a fifth-round knockout of Italy’s Claudio Squeo – 17-0 at the time on June 8, also at Gold Coast Convention Centre. The venue holds a special place in Opetaia’s heart. It also housed his July 2022 IBF cruiserweight title win over Mairis Briedis, a fight which saw the 2012 Olympian overcome a broken jaw to prevail via unanimous decision.
Opetaia earned a repeat unanimous decision victory over Latvia’s Briedis last May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cinkara will attempt his first shot at a world title. He became the IBF mandatory after a second-round knockout of Armend Xhoxhaj in their title eliminator last April 24 in Nurnberg, Germany.
Prior to the IBF reordered mandatory, Opetaia openly sought a unification bout with WBA/WBO titlist Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, 46-1 (30 KOs). He immediately agreed to terms as presented to him for a targeted clash on Alalshikh’s November 22 Riyadh Season show.
Those plans were scrapped, however, when Ramirez underwent surgery to repair a lingering shoulder injury.
The silver lining is that the unbeaten cruiserweight champion will lodge a third fight on the year.
“Jai Opetaia is the best boxer in Australia and the number one cruiserweight in the world," stated Mick Francis, director of Tasman Fighters. "His star keeps rising, and bringing this fight to Australia shows just how big he’s become. Fans can expect fireworks.”
