As expected it was another big Sunday night title defence for IBF cruiserweight world champion, Jai Opetaia. This, as Opetaia overpowered little-known Italian challenger Claudio Squeo and scored a fifth-round KO with one big right hand landed.
The bout was the main event for Matchroom Boxing/Riyadh Season co-promoted card in Broadbeach, Australia, with Opetaia defending his version of the cruiserweight title for the fourth time in less than a year with his KO win.
The 29-year-old improved to 28-0, 22 KOs, as he repeatedly scored with solid straight left hands against his considerably shorter and smaller opponent. The 34-year-old Squeo (previously 17-0) frankly looked like a blown-up super middleweight trying to compete at cruiserweight as the taller bigger Opetaia overpowered him with combinations throughout the fight.
Jai Opetaia vs. Claudio Squeo IBF Cruiserweight Title Fight
Jai Opetaia Scores Another Knockout Sunday Night
The end came early in the fifth round when Opetaia caught Squeo on the left jaw with a right hand. Once Squeo went down on one knee, he immediately began pointing to his jaw and looking at his corner, as if he believed his jaw was broken. The referee counted out Squeo at: 36 seconds of the fifth.
With the win Opetaia, who has been on a roll for the last three years, has set himself up for a potential unification cruiserweight title fight with Mexican Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Ramirez owns the WBA/WBO versions of the cruiserweight championships and is scheduled to defend those on June 28th against Yuniel Dorticos, as the co-feature fight for Jake Paul’s main event with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Anaheim, California.
Back to Opetaia, he clearly is the man to beat in the division at this point including his two wins over one of the best cruiserweights of the last decade Maris Briedis. by decision in July 2022 and then, validated that win in their rematch in May of last year with another 12 round decision victory. He now is 6-0 in world title fights.
Very Active Jai Opetaia Continues
Sunday night was the third consecutive title KO win for Opetaia dating back to last October and it only reinforces that Opetaia, for however long he continues to remain at cruiserweight, will be a handful for any world-class opponent.
