Eddie Hearn says IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will potentially be challenging Oleksandr Usyk for his heavyweight world titles in “12 to 18 months” with the help of “the money from” Turki Al-Shiekh.
Hearn revealed that the plan is to increase Opetaia’s “credibility” by having him become the undisputed cruiserweight champion first by capturing the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts from Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Badou Jack. Once Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) does that, he’ll move up to heavyweight to challenge Usyk for his belts if he’s not retired or beaten by someone before then.
Skipping The Line?
There is something off-putting about Opetaia being given a title shot in his first fight at heavyweight without at least fighting a title eliminator or one of the top contenders waiting to compete for a world title. When a fighter gets a straight title shot without even competing in the division first, boxing seems less like a real sport and more about just popularity and money.
As good as Opetaia looked on Wednesday night, knocking out David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia, it’s difficult to imagine him defeating heavyweight contenders like Martin Bakole.
18-Month Plan
“Jai is going to collect all the belts at cruiserweight to become undisputed, and then we want to push him into a fight against Oleksandr Usyk in the heavyweight division to try and become undisputed as well,” said Eddie Hearn to DAZN, talking about wanting Jai Opetaia to collect all the titles at cruiserweight and then move up to heavyweight to do the same up there.
“I believe he’s the only person at cruiserweight or heavyweight that can genuinely give Oleksandr Usyk a real, real fight, but to do it, we have to pick up every belt in the cruiserweight first to give him the credibility and the money from His Excellency to make Oleksandr Usyk get in the ring.
“Trust me, in 12 to 18 months, Jai Opetaia against Oleksandr Usyk is an all-time classic,” said Hearn.
Opetaia might come undone when he gets in with WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs). That’s a big step up from the likes of Nyika and a faded Mairis Briedis. He could lose to Zurdo, which would ruin Hearn’s vision of him moving up to challenge Usyk.
In Usyk’s case. He might retire soon or get beaten by IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk will not wait for Opetaia to collect all the belts at cruiserweight before fighting again. He will stay active, and one of the obvious fights that could happen next is a rematch with Dubois.
Oleksandr was lucky not to be knocked out in their fight on August 26, 2023. He was dropped by what looked to be a legal body shot, but the referee ruled it a low blow. Replays showed it was on the beltline. Dubois will focus on Usyk’s body in a rematch, knowing he’s weak there.
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