Promoter Eddie Hearn needs the unified WBA & WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez to struggle his fighter, IBF champ Jai Opetaia, subsequent in a three-belt championship match.
Hearn NEEDS Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) and his promoters at Golden Boy to comply with the unification as a result of the IBF has ordered Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) to defend in opposition to his necessary subsequent, Huseyin Cinkara (22-0, 18 KOs).
That struggle will appeal to little curiosity on DAZN. Opetaia’s Australian followers is not going to thoughts him defending in opposition to the 39-year-old Cinkara, however the remainder of the world is not going to be excited in regards to the struggle.
What Does De La Hoya Stand to Acquire?
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya most likely gained’t need to do Hearn any favors by placing collectively a struggle between his man, Zurdo Ramirez, and Opetaia as a result of he can be the underdog in that match. De La Hoya and Golden Boy ought to thumb their noses at Hearn and give attention to persevering with to match Ramirez in opposition to guys they know he can beat.
De La Hoya made a mistake as soon as of letting Zurdo struggle Hearn’s struggle Dmitry Bivol in 2022, and he was crushed for the primary time in his profession by a one-sided 12-round unanimous resolution. Oscar most likely isn’t going to need to assist Hearn out once more by matching Ramirez in opposition to Opetaia and watching him get rivaled by the IBF champ.
For those who’re De la Hoya, you need to proceed with placing Ramirez in with fighters like Chris Billiam-Smith and Arsen Goulamirian to attempt to make him a star. I don’t assume it’s potential at this level to show the 33-year-old Ramirez right into a star, however that gained’t maintain De La Hoya from persevering with to attempt.
Ramirez is an effective fighter, however he’s simple to hit, as we noticed in his struggle in opposition to Billiam-Smith. It could be a catastrophe for De La Hoya to match him in opposition to Opetaia, who can actually punch.
“It’s the perfect struggle within the division, and it’s a must-make struggle. Pretty much as good as Zurdo is, Opetaia’s a special animal,” mentioned Hearn to @DAZNBoxing.
Cinkara vs. Opetaia: A Obligatory However Much less Interesting Struggle
Cinkara stopped Armend Xhoxha within the second spherical on April twenty seventh in an IBF eliminator to develop into the necessary for Opetaia’s belt.
It’s not a giant deal for Opetaia to face Cinkara subsequent as a result of many of the guys he’s fought throughout his nine-year profession in Australia have been little-known opposition.
The one recognized man that Opetaia fought was Mairis Briedis, and he gave him all types of issues of their rematch. In that struggle, Opetaia regarded afraid when he began taking punishment and fought loads like an even bigger model of Shakur Stevenson, motoring across the ring, attempting to not get hit.