Though Jai Opetaia, 25-0 (19 KOs), unquestionably wanted a bigger fight than Jack Massey, his opponent on the October 12 Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia, the IBF cruiserweight belt-holder insists that he won’t overlook his next challenger.
The 29-year-old southpaw, from Sydney, Australia, had made overtures to WBO boss Chris Billam-Smith only for the Briton to declare the earliest he could fight would be in November.
“It is what is,” Opetaia said. “Jack Massey has my full focus now. I was chasing those unification fights but we’re here now.
“Man, I’m not taking Massey likely. He’s coming to fight. I’ve prepared for 12 hard rounds, like I always do. I’m ready for war, let’s go.”
Massey, 22-2 (12 KOs), is fresh off an impressive victory over Isaac Chamberlain but the cruiserweight leader is an altogether bigger challenge for the 31-year-old.
“Listen, this is what I do,” he said. “This is my job and I know how big this fight is, I plan to take it with both hands.”
Massey has been in deep before, namely when he stepped up to heavyweight in January last year to take on Joseph Parker and lose a competitive 10-rounder on points.
“I know I’ve got a tough fight ahead of me,” Massey continued. “I don’t just turn up for the money; I didn’t do that against Parker. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win this fight.”
Skye Nicolson, 11-0 (1 KO), let out a similar battle cry as she spoke of her bout with Raven Chapman in what will be the first women’s professional boxing match to take place on a Riyadh Season bill. “I’m prepared for everything and anything on the night,” she said. “I’ve levelled up again on this camp and whatever Raven brings we’ve got an answer for it.”
Chapman, 9-0 (2 KOs), added: “It’s a great clash of styles and I’m looking forward to getting women’s boxing on that big stage.
“There’s not a lot of things now that can ‘make history’ but we’re a part of this and to go down in the history books is really humbling and it’s a huge reason why I do this as a fighter, as a woman in boxing. I want this to make it clear that it doesn’t matter what gender you are, you should get the opportunities you deserve.”
The 33-year-old Liam Cameron, 23-6 (10 KOs), has also been chasing justice after traces of a recreational drug were found in his system in 2018 and he was hit with a hefty four-year ban. He will take on the cocksure up-and-comer Ben Whittaker, 8-0 (5 KOs), on the same bill.
“I’ve seen two of his fights,” Cameron said of Whittaker. “I was with some mates and we were laughing, him making his opponents miss and that. But you can’t keep doing that. You have to have your hands up in boxing.”
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