Jai Opetaia delivers one-sided beatdown of brave Jack Massey to retain title

The IBF world cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, a Sydney southpaw reigning with the title for the second, dismantled poor Jack Massey in the sixth round to defend his crown.

Opetaia dictated terms throughout and when the end came, Massey was under intense pressure and his trainer Joe Gallagher threw the towel in. It was accepted by the referee Steve Gray after two minutes of the round.

Inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of the tantalising light-heavyweight fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol — the latter who Opetaia has been strongly-linked with — the 29-year-old continued his run through British cruiserweight opposition.

Massey, now 22-3 (12 KOs), from Marple, Cheshire, is 31 years old, and had a tough night.

Opetaia, 26-0 (20 KOs), looked to start quickly behind sharp left hands, while Massey threw stubborn rights to the head and body. The Englishman caught an early right hook and the champion tracked him to the corners.

Australia’s Opetaia switched his focus to the body in the second, and upped his work-rate. He took a counter right in return, but Opetaia was largely able to avoid what did come back at him.

Massey only rarely threw more than one shot at a time; he covered up but was cut by his left eye early in the fourth round. Massey was also disappointed for getting caught with his hands low near the end of the session.

Opetaia, 29, was unrelenting. He was methodical and building a lead. Massey was now bleeding more heavily and he took a right that forced him to cover. Opetaia poured forwards — a torrent of southpaw leather flowing one way.

Massey was gutsy but it was getting rough in there for him as the fifth ended.

Opetaia looked bright and fresh bounding out for the sixth but there was a weary look to the challenger.  It was getting increasingly brutal and then Gallagher threw in the towel.