Jai Opetaia, the IBF and Ring cruiserweight champion, says he desires a combat towards Oleksandr Usyk at heavyweight.
Opetaia’s Ambitions Past Cruiserweight
The 28-year-old Opetaia (25-0, 19 KOs) is being talked about shifting as much as heavyweight to search for greater alternatives in that weight class that aren’t out there to him on the barren cruiserweight, which is stuffed with no-name fighters who compete beneath the radar of most boxing followers.
Usyk just lately instructed the media he needed to maneuver right down to cruiserweight to try to turn out to be a two-time undisputed champion in that weight class. He achieved this feat in 2018 when he defeated Murat Gassiev.
It’s unclear how critical Usyk is about shifting again right down to cruiserweight as a result of there are so few compelling combat alternatives in that division moreover a conflict towards Opetaia.
That combat would solely resonate with folks in Australia and hardcore boxing followers as a result of Opetaia hasn’t been round lengthy sufficient to create a big fan base exterior of his house nation.
The one identify man on Opetaia’s resume is 39-year-old Mairis Briedis, and he gave him a number of issues of their two fights.
The Want for a Swift Transfer
Opetaia might want to transfer up in weight quickly to catch the 37-year-old Usyk whereas he’s nonetheless within the recreation. He’ll possible not be round an excessive amount of longer, and Opetaia shall be on the finish of a protracted line of potential choices for the Ukrainian star.
The easiest way for Opetaia to get a combat towards Usyk is to maneuver as much as heavyweight proper now and use his reference to the Saudis to tackle the winner of the Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole combat on August third.
If Opetaia beats a kind of guys, his recognition will soar, and he is perhaps the radar of Usyk or one of many different huge names. I’ve my doubts that Opetaia may beat any of the highest fighters like Bakole, Anderson, or Daniel Dubois as a result of he had so many issues towards Briedis.
“I might like to combat Usyk respectfully. I’ve at all times been so near him,” stated Jai Opetaia to Combat Hub TV about his need to combat Oleksandr Usyk. “I used to be 16 years outdated, and I certified for the Olympics. I competed at 17, and he gained that Olympic video games.
“I’ve at all times been there. It wasn’t my time but. I really feel like my time is coming,” stated Opetaia.
