Comments Thread For: Heavyweight on hold: Jai Opetaia wants to unify, not Derek Chisora

[BoxingUpdates]

Jai Opetaia has dismissed suggestions that he is considering a move to heavyweight and insisted that his focus remains on becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world
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[famicommander]

I don't believe he wants to unify. Besides Briedis, all of his opponents since he won the title have been literally the worst guy he could face without getting stripped.

Jordan Thompson, Ellis Zorro, Jack Massey, David Nyika, Claudio Squeo, and now Cinkara?

Meanwhile Zurdo is taking on Dorticos, Billam-Smith, Goulamirian, Smith, and Bivol.

[SouthpawRight]

I don't believe he wants to unify. Besides Briedis, all of his opponents since he won the title have been literally the worst guy he could face without getting stripped.

Jordan Thompson, Ellis Zorro, Jack Massey, David Nyika, Claudio Squeo, and now Cinkara?

Meanwhile Zurdo is taking on Dorticos, Billam-Smith, Goulamirian, Smith, and Bivol.

I'm unsure what Buff Guy Jai is waiting for

he was happy to fight on with a jaw that was broken in two places. So he's clearly comfortable with challenges

lot of talk about Buff Guy Jai at heavyweight

idk this guy's fight night weight

but he should stay at cruiser for as long as he can

he gets shaky legs from shots by randoms at cruisers

I think the heavies would mop him

[Roj]

I'm unsure what Buff Guy Jai is waiting for

he was happy to fight on with a jaw that was broken in two places. So he's clearly comfortable with challenges

lot of talk about Buff Guy Jai at heavyweight

idk this guy's fight night weight

but he should stay at cruiser for as long as he can

he gets shaky legs from shots by randoms at cruisers

I think the heavies would mop him

I agree - it’s questionable whether Opetaia can make it as a heavyweight. But he’s wasting time trying to unify at cruiser: neither Zurdo or Jack want to risk the belts they have and even they do fight him, who would really care?

jist move up, take a shot at heavy and get the big purses that come with mixing with the best fighters in that division?

[pollywog]

He can only fight who wants to fight him. That aint Zurdo, Badou or CBS. They'd rather hold their straps to ransom than lose them trying to unify.

Ain't nothing wrong with Jai wanting to follow the Usyk route; become undisputed and step up in weight straight to a title shot.

Meantime he just needs to keep beating the guy in front of him.

[Smash]

have they asked these cruiser belt holder Do You Want to unify and what are u doing about it???? put to each one and ask are they gettting their promoter to do their bidding or all just sitting on their Asses spouting crap over and over agin

[Joseph]

I salute the Briedis wins and always will, but I believe we saw Jai's ceiling in those fights. That ceiling may be good enough to unify CW, but it's hard to gauge based off the banquet of stiffs he's faced since. 2026, mid-range, is probably the soonest we'll see Jai/Zurdo, if at all.

[drablj]

jai can't be serious. he can not be serious. how can he not understand anything? of course jack and zurdo want big money. they are old/ancient and that's the reason they still fight. if they offered 10 million and step aside money for mandatories, of course unifications could have been made.
another thing is nyika wasn't a mandatory. either jai is gullible or his career is mismanaged. i am ok with cinkara. but he can't fight several irrelevant guys in a row and complain how other people are the problem. wbc made a mess. jai could have cleaned it by fighting peralta, rozicki and cieslak. i bet dorticos wasn't offered a chance either. zurdo has 2 belts which means almost always 2 mandatories. wbc title already has 3 mandatories in a row ready. unifications are impossible without very big money and step aside packages. he waits in vain.

[slimPickings]

I don't believe he wants to unify. Besides Briedis, all of his opponents since he won the title have been literally the worst guy he could face without getting stripped.

Jordan Thompson, Ellis Zorro, Jack Massey, David Nyika, Claudio Squeo, and now Cinkara?

Meanwhile Zurdo is taking on Dorticos, Billam-Smith, Goulamirian, Smith, and Bivol.

Here is someone who knows his boxing!!!

Could not have said it any better. He is in for a rude awakening if/when he meets Zurdo.

[Bull Pit]

Opetaia is the only Guy at CruserWeight who wants it all . The rest of them want to look around and avoid Opetaia. Now heavyweight is the only place he can be Guaranteed a fight . Similar to Ennis in a way as both just wanted to unify but just can’t get it done. Just like Usyk I can see Opetaia doing well at heavyweight .