JAI Opetaia efficiently retained his IBF world title in Riyadh, forcing Jack Massey’s cornerman Joe Gallagher to throw the towel in at 2-00 of spherical six. Referee Steve Grey accepted the in-fight retirement.
It began off as one-way site visitors and by no means reversed. Massey had a troublesome opening few rounds, taking Opetaia’s straight left palms to the physique, inserting his again firmly in opposition to the ropes.
Massey’s tough activity was already robust sufficient earlier than an enormous proper hand and bleeding eye in spherical 5 elevated the strain. If Massey’s plan was to get to the later rounds, then the technique probably wanted to be revisited as he sucked it up and plodded on in direction of a sixth-round nose-busting.
Joe Gallagher determined sufficient was sufficient and threw the towel in to finish the bloodbath. Massey, the European champion, could have felt his time was nonetheless to return, however a withdrawal made sense. Because the ring settled down for the consequence announcement, Jack Massey’s face was a multitude as he nodded approval on the defeat.
Jai Opetaia mentioned afterwards: “I felt good. I knew Jack was going to return and battle. I’ve nothing however respect for him and his household. Whoever he [Turki Alalshikh] tells me to beat, that’s who I’ve acquired to beat.”
Gilberto Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith will battle subsequent month in a title unification. Opetaia regarded massively spectacular and improved to 26-0 (20), whereas Massey fell to 22-3 (12).
