Jai Opetaia Can’t Find A Cruiserweight Champion To Fight Him
The agenda for the reigning IBF cruiserweight title, Jai Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs), is clear. He wants to face the best in the division and become undisputed. However, it’s becoming clear that the other champions at cruiserweight do not share that goal and are doing their best to avoid a unification with the IBF beltholder.
Opetaia has looked nearly flawless since a unanimous decision victory over Mairis Breidis to win the IBF title in July 2022. His most recent outing was a dominant sixth-round stoppage over Jack Massey on October 12 in Saudi Arabia. During an interview with UK’s iFL TV, Opetaia reiterated his desire to conquer the division.
“We’re chasing the unification. We always have been. We’ve been chasing these unification fights, but we’re being patient, ticking the boxes, fighting who we have to fight . . . When these boys come, we’re going to fucking level up. I can feel it.”
WILL ANYONE STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE?
So far, that wish has been hard to come by. The native of Australia would love to fight WBO champion Chris Billiam-Smith with a target date of November this year. He would also jump at the chance to face WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Rather than accept the challenge, Billam-Smith and Ramirez chose to fight each other on November 16 in Saudi Arabia.
Given that reality, all Opetaia can do is keep fighting until the other world champions express a genuine desire to fight him. The IBF champion is ranked as the best cruiserweight in the world by many pundits. He has the skill and power to give Billam-Smith and Ramirez plenty of trouble. When asked to deliver a message for the rest of the division, the Aussie said the following:
“I’m born ready. We’re made for this shit. So whoever’s next, bring it on.”
It has to be frustrating for Opetaia. On the surface, the elite fighters in the division are ducking him.
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