Jai Opetaia: record, next fight and profile →
It may be a new year, but it is back to the same old grind for Chris Billam-Smith. The WBO cruiserweight champion is back in the gym having successfully defended his title for the first time by wearing down Mateusz Masternak in eight rounds last December.
Turki Alalshikh has what he considers an appealing plan for Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol beyond their light heavyweight title unification showdown. The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority hopes the winner between Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) and
Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis will run it back after all. BoxingScene.com has confirmed that plans are in place for a cruiserweight championship rematch on February 17 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The two will meet for Opetaia’s lineal crown and potentially for the IBF title that the unbeaten Australian was previously forced to vacate for failure to defend in an ordered mandatory title defense versus Briedis.
The sport’s reigning lineal heavyweight and cruiserweight champions will not only share a card but a training camp as well. BoxingScene.com has confirmed that Jai Opetaia will next appear on the undercard of the February 17 Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has a one-track mind moving forward, and it might as well be billed undisputed or bust. Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) handily bested Lyndon Arthur by a shutout unanimous decision during a title defense on Dec. 23. The
It’s been a beautiful, yet frustrating two years for Dmitry Bivol. In 2022, the Russian star essentially gave oddsmakers the middle finger as he was viewed as a gigantic underdog against Canelo Alvarez. After 12 rounds, he found himself on the winning side of things, eking out a unanimous decision victory.
Top cruiserweight Jai Opetaia is looking for gold after having a big year in 2023, Last month in Saudi Arabia, Opetaia blew away undefeated Ellis Zorro in a single round of action. Opetaia captured the IBF world title last year with a shock decision win over Mairis Briedis in 2022, but then he was stripped of the title last month after the sanctioning body refused to approve his voluntary defense against Zorro. There was an outstanding order to make a mandatory defense in a rematch with Briedis. However, Briedis was injured
Once the IBF cruiserweight trinket was in his possession, Jai Opetaia was convinced that it would remain with him for practically a lifetime. Alright, that might be a bit hyperbolic but Opetaia couldn’t envision a single soul beating him for his title.
Jai Opetaia, regarded as the best cruiserweight in the weight class, made another big statement on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, when he blew away unbeaten contender Ellis Zorro with a brutal one-punch knockout in the first round.
Opetaia, Zorro Fight Photos Gallery - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The man regarded as the best cruiserweight in the world, Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) demolished previously undefeated Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) in one round. (photos by Mark Robinson)