Jai Opetaia countered on Saturday that he plans to quickly become the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2025 and then move up to heavyweight to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his belts if he still holds them.
Size difference
Usyk and Jai met during the Ring Awards on Saturday. When they stood side by side, Usyk looked much bigger than the 6’2″ Opetaia. If this fight takes place, Opetaia will not take advantage of his normal size advantage, which he has come to rely on at cruiserweight.
Also, his one-arm fighting style could lead to him being schooled and embarrassed by Usyk. Jai uses a Bivol-esque hybrid style that he clearly learned from watching the former WBA lightweight champion. Usyk has seen that style often during his years on the amateur circuit in Ukraine and easily overcomes it.
If Usyk loses his titles Daniel Dubois in a rematch, he will put Opetaia in a position where he has to decide to go after the belts against the formidable power puncher. It would be a bad look on Opetaia’s part to fight Usyk anyway.
That would have seemed cowardly. Jai will be tiny against Dubois if the fight ever happens. Even if Opetaia bulks up, he will be tiny next to Dubois in the ring. I do not see a favorable result for the Australian. He is not another Evander Holyfield. He doesn’t have that kind of talent.
Opetaia’s promoter Eddie Hearn will need to put together the unification fights he needs to become cruiserweight champion this year against WBC champion Badou Jack and WBA and WBO belt Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for him have a chance to achieve their goal this year. .
IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) defeated challenger David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round on January 8 at the Gold Coast Convention Center, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia .
Cruiserweight first
“I’m glad it went that way. The fans got what they wanted. It was good to be back at home, and have that kind of energy,” said Jai Opetaia to talkSport Boxingdiscussing his recent win over David Nyika on January 8 in Australia.
“No, I’m good to go again. Pursue those unification fights,” said Opetaia, reacting to being told his face looks unmarked less than a week after his four-round war with heavy puncher Nyika.
“I’m a little complacent. After the first round, I had this picture in my head of one of those Hagler-Hearns types of fights,” Opetaia said of him getting hit with some big shots from the 6′ 6 ″ Nyika in the competition. “It was good to be a part of it. I’m just happy to put on a good show and a good fight.
“Of course, man. That’s the goal,” said Opetaia about wanting to become undisputed at cruiserweight and then move up to heavyweight to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his world titles.
Oleksandr Usyk with Jai Opetaia #TheRingAwards pic.twitter.com/9zNJoeq1Ax
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025
