Jai Opetaia reiterated 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 by then.
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 does get made, Opetaia won’t enjoy his normal size advantage, which he’s come to rely on at cruiserweight.
Moreover, his one-armed fighting style could lead to him being schooled and embarrassed by Usyk. Jai uses a hybrid Bivol-esque style that he clearly learned from watching the former WBA light heavyweight champion. Usyk has seen that style frequently during his years on the amateur circuit in Ukraine and will easily overcome it.
If Usyk loses his titles to Daniel Dubois in a rematch, it’s going to put Opetaia in a position where he’ll need to decide whether 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 make him look cowardly. Jai is going to be minuscule against Dubois if that fight ever happens. Even if Opetaia bulks up, he’s going to be tiny next to Dubois inside the ring. I don’t see a favorable outcome for the Australian. He’s NOT another Evander Holyfield. He doesn’t have that kind of talent.
Opetaia’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, will need to set up the unification fights he needs to become cruiserweight champion this year against WBC champ Badou Jack and WBA and WBO belt holder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for him to have a shot of accomplishing his goal this year.
IBF cruiserweight champ Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) knocked out challenger David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round on January 8th at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia.
Cruiserweight First
“I’m happy it turned out that way. The fans got what they wanted. It was good to be back home, and have that type of energy,” said Jai Opetaia to talkSport Boxing, discussing his recent victory over David Nyika on January 8th in Australia.
“No, I’m good to go again. I’m chasing those unification fights,” said Opetaia, reacting to being told that his face looks unmarked less than a week after his four-round war with the heavy puncher Nyika.
“I got a bit complacent. After the first round, I had this picture in my head of one of those Hagler-Hearns type of fights,” said Opetaia about him getting hit with some big shots from the 6’6″ Nyika in the contest. “It was good to be a part of it. I’m just happy to put on a good show and a good fight.
“Definitely, 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 at #TheRingAwards pic.twitter.com/9zNJoeq1Ax
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025
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