Comments Thread For: Jai Opetaia reveals 'complacency' after suffering facial injury

[elfag]

I used to be hard on Jai as he hadnt fought anyone good

now I can see that Zurdo is blatantly ducking him. Looks like Benavidez intends to duck him too. Agree he is a proper sized cruiser and he could move to heavyweight, he might have to if there are no real fights for him at cruiser and at 30 with only one good name so far his whole career he might want to think about that. I think he will be undersized for heavy so he is going to have to carefully match and try to land some big pay days before its time for retirement. These guys dont get a pension so I would start looking at getting some paydays at this point to set himself up for life after boxing

[SouthpawRight]

I hope he gets the significant fights before his career is all said and done. I think he's only really ever been pushed to the brink once (vs. Breidis when he got his jaw broken). He seems like a guy who's ready to leave it in the ring if necessary. He has the eyes of a killer, and he needs more formidable opposition before he loses his edge.

SouthpaRight, glad to hear that Jack/Mikaeljan is already lined up. Also, Jordan Thompson landed on Opetaia but never really buzzed him. JT was massive for CW.

Buff Guy Jai and his team want to focus on fighting in Australia

Location is a big reason for the lackluster opps thus far

fighting in SAUDI THE US THE UK would bring eyes on him

[SouthpawRight]

I used to be hard on Jai as he hadnt fought anyone good

now I can see that Zurdo is blatantly ducking him. Looks like Benavidez intends to duck him too. Agree he is a proper sized cruiser and he could move to heavyweight, he might have to if there are no real fights for him at cruiser and at 30 with only one good name so far his whole career he might want to think about that. I think he will be undersized for heavy so he is going to have to carefully match and try to land some big pay days before its time for retirement. These guys dont get a pension so I would start looking at getting some paydays at this point to set himself up for life after boxing

please explain?

[SouthpawRight]

kiaba360 here’s what I mean about Buff Guy Jai fighting in Australia setting him back from the big fights

see quote 2. His promoters had to go to Fat Gilbert’s handlers and sell them the idea of fighting Buff Guy Jai in Australia

According to the promoter a contract has been agreed for Opetaia to be matched with the winner of the rematch between Badou Jack and Norair Mikaeljan for the WBC title on December 13. He had been wary of how soon that would happen should Jack again prove the winner, but with Opetaia likely to remain inactive during the coming months an IBF and WBC title fight could be next [he suffered a suspected fractured eye socket the plans for his next fight are almost certain to be delayed].

Mexico’s Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the WBA and WBO champion, is expected to fight David Benavidez in Las Vegas on the occasion of Cinco de Mayo. In the event of victory over Jack or Mikaeljan, Opetaia would be in a position to fight for all four titles next.

“The winner of next week’s fight [Badou-Noel] – it’s already been contracted,” Francis told BoxingScene. “Dr Rakan [AlHarthy of Sela has] contracted both fighters, so the winner of that fight will fight Jai at some stage next year.

“If it was Badou Jack it’s gotta be after June, because of Ramadan; it’s a 12-week camp. Turki Alalshikh loves Jai – he might be involved a lot more as well, because he wants to make this fight, or both fights, here in Australia.

“We went over to New York and met with Eric Gomez and the Golden Boy team [for a Fat Gilbert fight], when Hamzah Sheeraz fought [in July, Edgar Berlanga]. They like the fight; Oscar De La Hoya likes the fight. A week later [Ramirez is] getting a shoulder operation. You can’t make these guys get in the ring, but when we had that conversation one of the things they put to us was how would that fight work in Australia? At first I shut it down a little bit – was it a stadium fight? I’m not so sure – but I think we’re ready for a stadium fight now, and I’ve had a conversation with Eric since then.

what reason would Fat Gilbert or Fat Dave have for facing Buff Guy Jai in Australia

it has no mexicans

[elfag]

please explain?

have you even heard him say Jai's name?


hes going right for Zurdo

[SouthpawRight]

have you even heard him say Jai's name?


hes going right for Zurdo

a test the waters fight in his first outing at cruiser

[kiaba360]

kiaba360 here’s what I mean about Buff Guy Jai fighting in Australia setting him back from the big fights

see quote 2. His promoters had to go to Fat Gilbert’s handlers and sell them the idea of fighting Buff Guy Jai in Australia

what reason would Fat Gilbert or Fat Dave have for facing Buff Guy Jai in Australia

it has no mexicans

Ramirez's most significant fights (CBS and Bivol) have taken place abroad. I don't foresee Opetaia/Ramirez selling well enough in the USA to generate the money everyone would desire. Benavidez/Ramirez is exactly the type of match-making I associate with GBP, so they'll know how to market it and where to host the card. I also expect it to be one of DAZN's 12 PPVs.

[SouthpawRight]

Ramirez's most significant fights (CBS and Bivol) have taken place abroad. I don't foresee Opetaia/Ramirez selling well enough in the USA to generate the money everyone would desire. Benavidez/Ramirez is exactly the type of match-making I associate with GBP, so they'll know how to market it and where to host the card. I also expect it to be one of DAZN's 12 PPVs.

Fat Dave is PPV seller

Fast Handed Big Mexican-American

Mexicans with his size handspeed and size are rare

[Joseph]

Other than the jacked jaw handed to him by Briedis, was the Cinkara overhand the worst amount of trouble Opetai has ever faced? I'm trying to remember if he's ever been in serious trouble. Google says no. Is Google wrong?

[SouthpawRight]

Other than the jacked jaw handed to him by Briedis, was the Cinkara overhand the worst amount of trouble Opetai has ever faced? I'm trying to remember if he's ever been in serious trouble. Google says no. Is Google wrong?

Briedis hurt him late in the rematch and finished the fight strong because of it

Good slugger but defense chin and all around durability isnt great

Regular body attack is nice though