What subsequent for Jai Opetaia?

By James Hicken

OVER the previous few years, Jai Opetaia has confirmed himself to be among the finest fighters on this planet and the de facto king of the cruiserweight division. Because the departure of Oleksandr Usyk, there was a scramble for the scattered world titles he left behind. Though Opetaia has solely been capable of declare the IBF title twice in that point, defeating one other of the very best cruiserweights of the time, Mairis Briedis, his devasting energy and exact expertise have positioned him on the prime of his division.

After efficiently defending his IBF title in opposition to Jack Massey on October twelfth, the query stays: What’s subsequent for this rising phenom, and what paths lay open for him to discover?

Unification

Opetaia’s clearest choice, and the one he has expressed as his present precedence, is cleansing up the cruiserweight division and changing into the undisputed champion.

To have the ability to solidify himself as the very best cruiserweight on the planet, Opetaia must struggle no less than three extra instances at his present weight. Since beating Massey, the IBF has insisted that Opetaia defends in opposition to his necessary challenger, Huseyin Cinkara, or he will probably be stripped of his title once more, having suffered the identical punishment for selecting to struggle Ellis Zorro in Saudi Arabia final yr.

He’ll, subsequently, have to stay affected person to unify the division while battling in opposition to the IBF.

“I’m simply pursuing unification of belts”, Opetaia defined. “So I’m actually chasing these progress fights.”

November 16th, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith may have a unification bout for the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles. This struggle looks like the proper subsequent step for the Australian as he’ll have the ability to defend in opposition to his necessary after which tackle the winner of Ramirez vs Billam-Smith to turn into the unified champ, leaving just one belt to gather.

In an ideal world, Opetaia might turn into the undisputed cruiserweight champion by the tip of subsequent yr if the promoters can line up schedules and fighters keep wholesome. His closing hurdle to this is able to be the WBC champion Norair Mikaelian, who has been inactive for greater than a yr after successful his inexperienced and gold strap.

It’s onerous to discover a cause to consider that Opetaia doesn’t comfortably beat the opposite champions within the division at a time when the pool of cruiserweight expertise is in a minor lull. I’d count on to see Opetaia make these his first steps to greatness.

Heavyweight

A glance additional down the road, maybe at a transfer to heavyweight for the Australian. It has been a query that he has been requested an increasing number of steadily as he dispatches his cruiserweight opposition with ease.

Standing at six toes and two inches, ought to Opetaia determine to enterprise as much as heavyweight then he can be a contact undersized on this trendy heavyweight period, he has additionally acknowledged he comfortably makes the cruiserweight restrict, bringing into query whether or not or not he might placed on sufficient measurement to compete and compensate for his missing peak.

This isn’t to place limitations on a fighter primarily based purely on their measurement as this has been confirmed a fallacy many instances, one merely has to have a look at the likes of David Haye and Oleksandr Usyk on this trendy period of heavyweights. Each of those fighters stand just one inch taller than Opetaia and each claimed heavyweight gold after a transfer from Cruiserweight.

Opetaia has additionally been within the ring with heavyweights earlier than, most famously he was known as into Tyson Fury’s coaching camp for his struggle with Oleksandr Usyk.

The hearsay mill then started to flow into as Opetaia was despatched dwelling in a short time after their first sparring session. Some speculated this was as a result of Opetaia dropped Fury, and others have mentioned that Fury wished extra orthodox sparring. Nevertheless you learn into it, Opetaia definitely appears as if he has what it takes to compete with a lot bigger opponents.

It does appear that this isn’t an pressing matter for the 29-year-old as he’s laser-focused on the challenges of his present division.

“I undoubtedly see myself heading down that course,” Opetaia revealed. “However like I mentioned, with out successful these fights, that’s simply discuss.”

He additionally mentioned: “as soon as I’m going up I don’t need to come again down in weight”.

This most likely tells us it will likely be a transfer he makes at a later stage of his profession, and he feels no strain to pack on the kilos simply but.

Shifting as much as heavyweight is a really actual choice for a person of Opetaia’s ability and energy and can stay an open choice to him for the remainder of his profession, so there is no such thing as a have to rush out of the cruiserweight division when there may be nonetheless work to do.

Artur Beterbiev

The newly topped undisputed light-heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev, might be an fascinating proposition for a struggle with the IBF cruiserweight champ. Although this struggle is a contact extra imaginative than the opposite introduced choices, Beterbiev has expressed an curiosity in shifting as much as cruiserweight.

Talking earlier than his unification bout with Dmitry Bivol, he mentioned: “We’ll see after. Challenges could also be in numerous classes. Go up [in weight]. I’m not targeted on this stuff”

The largest struggle on provide for him can be the struggle with Opetaia and the Australian has additionally expressed an curiosity on this struggle.

Talking on Beterbiev, he mentioned: “Yeah, for certain. He’s a fantastic champion, and I’m all the time keen to check myself to be nice”

Regardless of feeling barely exterior the realms of chance, this struggle can be an thrilling prospect and can be nice for the careers of each fighters. Beterbiev’s advancing age as a boxer, sadly, has to return into the dialog as he should struggle Dmitry Bivol once more, and Opetaia will need to unify earlier than prize fights, so it’s questionable that the timing will ever be proper for each.

Oleksandr Usyk

A struggle that definitely is smart and is at the moment wanting extra possible than ever, is for Opetaia to struggle the present unified heavyweight champion and former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, to aim to write down his identify within the historical past books among the many finest cruiserweights of all time.

A struggle between these two can be monumental for boxing and much more so for the cruiserweight division, which can have by no means seen a struggle of this potential magnitude.

Opetaia has been an admirer of Usyk for his entire profession and seems like he has been ready within the wings for this chance to show himself.

“I’d like to struggle Usyk sooner or later,” Opetaia advised Sky Sports activities earlier than his struggle with Jack Massey. “It’s a struggle that I’ll undoubtedly be chasing. I’ve been round Usyk for a very long time. We have been each on the identical Olympic Video games.

“I’ve all the time been shut. I’ve all the time been within the shadows. I really feel like my alternative’s getting nearer and nearer to being in there in opposition to him.

Now at 37 years outdated, many would have anticipated the Ukrainian to retire as a heavyweight, however Usyk made a shocking assertion earlier this yr shortly after his first struggle with Tyson Fury.

“I believe perhaps after the rematch, I’m going to go down in weight to cruiserweight I would like extra [fights at] cruiserweight” Usyk advised the ‘3 Knockdown Rule’ podcast in June.

“Perhaps I may be undisputed for a second time within the cruiserweight division, it’s my plan. After I begin to put together for my coaching camp [as a heavyweight], I’ve to eat on a regular basis. For me it’s onerous, I don’t prefer it.”

Ought to Usyk truly make this uncommon transfer again down in weight, one would count on the proper opponent for him to see if he can turn into undisputed cruiserweight champion once more to be Jai Opetaia.

Maybe Opetaia would be the undisputed champion by the point the struggle may be made. Whichever method it shakes out, it’s plain that this is able to be an infinite alternative for Opetaia and a struggle that it might be onerous to write down him out of.