Jai Opetaia: record, next fight and profile →
On Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jack Massey fights Jai Opetaia for the IBF cruiserweight title. This time two years ago, however, he was working on scaffolds, unable to secure a meaningful opportunity.
Jai Opetaia has indicated that Turki Alalshikh is working behind the scenes to line up a cruiserweight unification fight with the winner of the upcoming showdown between WBA titlist Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and WBO belt-holder Chris Billam-Smith.
The upcoming fight between Jai Opetaia and Jack Massey will indeed be allowed to be competed for the IBF cruiserweight title – in addition to Opetaia’s lineal championship – but the winner will have to defend next against the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger.
Though Jai Opetaia, 25-0 (19 KOs), unquestionably wanted a bigger fight than Jack Massey, his opponent on the October 12 Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia, the IBF cruiserweight belt-holder insists that he won’t overlook his next challenger.
In January 2023, Jack Massey was chosen as a surprise opponent for former WBO heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker
Chris Billam-Smith’s possible next opponent isn’t undefeated, and he isn’t a natural cruiserweight. Those are two possible critiques that people may have for Gilberto Ramirez.
When the time is right, Jai Opetaia and Chris Billam-Smith, arguably the world’s two best cruiserweights, will share a ring to clear up any uncertainty regarding the identity of the number one fighter at 200lbs
Jai Opetaia is close to giving up on his hopes of fighting Chris Billam-Smith in a cruiserweight unification title fight. Australia’s IBF champion said his team have yet to hear back from Billam-Smith’s advisors about an offer that was made in June by Riyadh Season for a bout in Saudi Arabia.
IBF cruiserweight belt holder Jai Opetaia wants the winner of Saturday’s WBO cruiserweight title fight between champion Chris Billam-Smith and challenger Richard Riakporhe.
Jai Opetaia, the now two-time IBF cruiserweight champion, admits he wants unification fights over any other alternatives.