JAI OPETAIA may make the fourth defence of his IBF cruiserweight title on January 8 in Australia.
The 29-year-old’s potential opponent is necessary challenger Huseyin ‘The Hurricane’ Cinkara, 22-0 (18 KOs), a 39-year-old German-born Turkish fighter who made his skilled debut in June 2016.
Cinkara grabbed the necessary spot after successful a last eliminator in opposition to Armend Xhoxhaj in two rounds in April. Xhoxhaj is thought for going 5 rounds with former WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith in December 2022. The unbeaten contender’s document gained’t fill anybody with confidence of an upset, nonetheless, as there are not any wins on his résumé to counsel he’s worthy of the necessary slot.
Followers of Opetaia won’t solely anticipate the champion to cope with Cinkara swiftly, ought to the struggle be finalised, however that it’s going to result in a cruiserweight unification super-fight in opposition to Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. The Mexican added the WBO belt to his WBA after beating Billam-Smith in an absorbing encounter on November 16.
Opetaia has made no secret of the very fact he needs extra titles and the largest struggle doable however since changing into champion solely his rematch victory in opposition to Mairis Briedis stands out. Since surviving a damaged jaw to beat the Latvian in July 2022 Opetaia has defeated Jordan Thompson, Ellis Zorro and Jack Massey together with the factors win over Briedis.
